WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Raytheon, an RTX business, a multi-year contract valued at up to $20.7 billion to accelerate manufacturing and double production capacity for the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The structural agreement spans a five-year primary execution period with options for two additional years, establishing a long-term procurement framework designed to replenish severely depleted U.S. and allied munitions stockpiles following sustained high-intensity military operations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and global maritime theaters.
The multi-year procurement agreement aims to ramp annual production output to at least 1,900 missiles per year, nearly doubling baseline manufacturing rates from 2024. Amid increased operational expenditure of air-to-air and surface-to-air interceptors—including active engagement of unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and airborne threats—the contract covers All Up Rounds (AURs), advanced guidance sections, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) offset packages. By providing guaranteed demand visibility through 2031–2033, the contract enables Raytheon and its supply chain partners to invest in facility expansions, tooling, and automated assembly lines for both air-launched fighters (F-35, F-22, F-15EX, F-16, F/A-18) and ground-based air defense systems (NASAMS).
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: RAYTHEON AIM-120 AMRAAM (MULTI-YEAR EXPANSION FRAMEWORK)
* System Classification: Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) Active Radar-Guided Air-to-Air & Surface-Launched Interceptor Missile
* Prime Contractor: Raytheon Co. (An RTX Business) — Tucson, Arizona
* Contract Structure & Value: 5-year base contract with 2 option years; total potential ceiling value of $20.699 billion ($20.7B)
* Target Production Output: Ramping output to ≥1,900 missiles annually (nearly double 2024 production baseline)
* Deliverable Scope: All Up Rounds (AURs), Form-Fit-Function Refresh (F3R) Guidance Sections, Direct Charge assemblies, and FMS Offsets
* Core System Upgrades: Integrated F3R digital signal processing, updated software-defined active radar seeker, and enhanced ECCM against modern electronic jamming
* Physical & Propulsion Envelope:
* Length: 3.66 meters (12 feet) | Hull Diameter: 178 mm (7 inches)
* Launch Mass: ~161 kg (355 lbs)
* Powerplant: Reduced-smoke solid-propellant rocket motor
* Speed & Range: Mach 4+ maximum speed; operational engagement range >160 km (86+ nmi) for AIM-120D-3 variants
* Dual-Domain Operational Deployment:
* Airborne Fighters: F-35A/B/C, F-22A, F-15E/EX, F-16C/D, F/A-18E/F, JAS-39 Gripen, and Eurofighter Typhoon
* Surface Air Defense: National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)
