AIM-120 - air-to-air missiles

2023: Launch of development of the fifth generation air-to-air missile AIM-120

In June 2023, the American defense company Raytheon Technologies signed a contract UNITED STATES AIR FORCE with an amount of $1.15 billion for the production of the next batch of AIM-120 air-to-air missiles. Due to the active supply of these weapons AFU To the Pentagon , it was necessary, firstly, to replenish their own reserves, and, secondly, to design a new missile taking into account the experience of the armed conflict.

Since June, Raytheon Technologies has been actively increasing the production of missiles, and also worked on the creation of the latest samples. As a result, tests of the AIM-120D-3 guided air-to-air missile (model for the US Air Force) and the first AIM-120C-8 tests (model for supplying allies) were completed.

Representatives of Raytheon Technologies claim that the C-8, like the D-3, has upgraded boards and improved processors, which in the future will allow Ukraine to more effectively combat Russian cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Despite the fact that usually Raytheon produces from 500 to 800 such missiles for 12 months, from now on production will be 1200 units per year.

As for the supply of AIM-120C-8 to Ukraine, they are expected in at least three years - unlike the D-3, the C-8 model has not yet been fully tested and Raytheon cannot yet say for sure how many they will still be required.