Raytheon tests air-to-surface AIM-9X

Raytheon has announced that it successfully tested an AIM-9X air-to-air missile against a ground target in September.

The missile, the latest iteration of the Sidewinder family of air-to-air missiles, was fired from an F-16C at a fast moving armoured boat target, and follows previous successful tests against a manoeurvring boat and against a moving armoured personnel carrier.

“With a software upgrade, AIM-9X retains its air-to-air capabilities and gains an air-to-surface capability,” said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. “AIM-9X now has the potential to take on an additional mission at a very affordable cost.”

The RAAF is acquiring AIM-9Xs to equip its F/A-18F Super Hornets which will delivered from March next year.