The US Navy and US Air Force are planning an aggressive 34-month flight-test programme for the Raytheon AIM-9X Evolved Sidewinder air-to-air missile following its first firing. Funding is being sought at the same time for initial low rate production of 150 missiles.
About 16 separation firings and more than 40 guided shots are due to take place by the end of 2001 and the conclusion of the engineering and manufacturing development effort. Flight testing will be progressively expanded from initial six degree-of-freedom manoeuvres to include high off-boresight angles.
A second Boeing F/A-18C separation test at the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Centre in April will be followed about a month later by the first supersonic separation firing from an F/A-18 or a USAF Boeing F-15 from Eglin AFB. The fourth test will be the first guided launch against a QF-4 drone target, according to programme officials.
The initial subsonic firing was conducted from 15,000ft (4,760m). Subsequent tests will include firings from higher altitudes and from as low as 5,000ft. In addition to validating aerodynamic model predictions and windtunnel testing, the programme will test the missile's Raytheon infrared imaging seeker against chaff and flare countermeasures.
A joint navy and air force operational assessment of the AIM-9X will be conducted in early 2000, followed by a validation phase in 2001. Plans call for the heat-seeking missile to be initially cleared for the F/A-18C/D and F-15 and, later, for the Lockheed Martin F-16, the F/A-18E/F and Lockheed Martin/ Boeing F-22 fighters.
There is no intention to integrate the weapon with either the Boeing AV-8B or the Northrop Grumman F-14.
The USN and USAF plan initially to purchase 5,000 missiles each over 15 years, with full-scale production starting in fiscal year 2003. This will be preceded by a second low-rate production batch of 250 missiles, to be funded in 2001, and another 600 the following financial year. The new missile will be equipped with the rocket motor and warhead used in the AIM-9M but fitted with new controls and seeker.
Source: Flight International
