The U.S. Navy has decided not to fund the Raytheon AIM-9X Block III dogfight missile anymore, Bill Sweetman reports. Development of an insensitive munitions warhead for the missile continues.
In the same article, Sweetman reported that the number of F-35Cs ordered by the service will be reduce in the upcoming years. It was suppose to buy 54 F-35Cs in the FY 2016-20 time frame, the order is now reduced to 38 jets.
Funding for a new Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) is also being requested as well. The new standoff weapon will double the range of the existing AGM-88E AARGM by upgrading to a new solid integrated rocket-ramjet.
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