30+ Successful Launches: Raytheon’s Missile Soars with the Joint Strike Fighter

Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles: A Game Changer

Since testing commenced in 2013, over 30 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) have been successfully launched from all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Notably, AMRAAM stands as the only air-to-air missile approved for deployment on the F-35 aircraft.

“AMRAAM represents the pinnacle of air-to-air combat capabilities,” stated Mike Jarrett, Vice President of Raytheon Air Warfare Systems. “The F-35 introduces innovative features, and AMRAAM perfectly complements this advanced platform, ensuring unmatched performance in Air Dominance operations.”

The U.S. Marine Corps has been utilizing AMRAAM on its F-35Bs since July 2015. Ongoing integration efforts will ensure that the missile remains fully compatible with each new variant of F-35 software as they are rolled out.

Looking ahead, the U.S. Air Force is poised to declare the F-35A operational in 2017, with AMRAAM playing a crucial role in the system’s Air Dominance capabilities. Following suit, the U.S. Navy is expected to announce operational readiness for its F-35Cs in 2018.

Due to its continuous modernization, AMRAAM consistently delivers high dependability and exceptional versatility at an economical lifecycle cost. It has equipped more types of aircraft than any other air-to-air missile currently in service.

Procured by 37 nations, AMRAAM is integrated on a range of platforms, including the F-16, F-15, F/A-18, F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado, and Harrier.

With over 4,200 test firings, AMRAAM has undergone the most thorough testing and enhancement of any air-to-air missile globally.

Future Integrations on the JSF

Raytheon is working to incorporate several advanced weapons into the Joint Strike Fighter, including:

• AIM-9X: The leading infrared-tracking, short-range missile, designed for compatibility with a wide array of modern combat aircraft like the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, and F-4.
• JSOW: A family of economical air-to-ground weapons featuring an integrated GPS-inertial navigation system alongside thermal imaging infrared seekers.
• JSM: A long-range anti-ship missile tailored for targeting high-value, heavily defended assets, ensuring aircraft safety through extended standoff ranges.
• Paveway: A series of laser-guided bombs that revolutionized tactical air-to-ground operations, enhancing standard munitions into precision-guided weapons, affirmed in numerous major conflicts.
• SDB-II: The Small Diameter Bomb II, capable of striking moving targets regardless of weather conditions, using Raytheon’s groundbreaking tri-mode seeker technology.