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Interceptor · Air

AIM-9X Sidewinder

Infrared-guided air-to-air missile with high off-boresight engagement capability.

by RTX · First fielded 2003

FieldedInterceptorAirContract awardJun 26, 2026
An AIM-9X Sidewinder on the wingtip of an F/A-18E Super Hornet on an aircraft carrier catapult

Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Navy)

Milestones20022026
  1. First deliveryFirst production AIM-9X delivery ceremony, confirmed
  2. MilestoneAir Force AIM-9X IOC celebrated, confirmed
  3. Contract award$1.1B Navy production contract (Block II), confirmed

Timeline3

  1. First deliveryConfirmed

    First production AIM-9X delivery ceremony

    The ceremony unveiled the first production missile; this is not asserted to be the earliest public disclosure of AIM-9X.

    SourcesU.S. Navy

  2. MilestoneConfirmed

    Air Force AIM-9X IOC celebrated

    The Navy and Raytheon celebrated achieved Air Force IOC at Elmendorf AFB. This date identifies the ceremony; the underlying declaration date is unspecified.

    SourcesU.S. Navy

  3. Contract awardConfirmed

    $1.1B Navy production contract (Block II)

    Award: AIM-9X Block II production (up to $1.10B ceiling)

    SourcesRTX

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Cost to the government

  • Unit cost (per round)Confirmed
    $507K
    Then-year $ · 504 units

    Army IFPC Inc 2 AIM-9X interceptor buy (via Navy/Raytheon contract), FY 2027 request P-5: $507.050K per missile for 504 (FY2025 $586.222K; FY2026 $516.513K). Navy/Air Force WPN/Missile Procurement books not machine-fetchable.

    U.S. Army, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)
  • Unit cost (per round)Reported
    $472K
    Estimate / observation: 2020-02-18 · Then-year $ · FY2021

    FY2021 Air Force budget request average unit price for AIM-9X (Block II and Block II+) as reported by The War Zone from official budget documents; Navy FY2021 average was $430,818 (not recorded separately: same natural key).

    The War Zone
Budget by fiscal year
Fiscal yearAppropriationRequestEnactedQtyBudget lineSource
FY2027RDT&E$221M———Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2027Procurement$594M—954—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2027Total$815M—954—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026RDT&E$121M$120M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026Procurement$185M$235M319—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2026Total$306M$355M319—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025RDT&E—$66.3M——Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025Procurement—$188M293—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed
FY2025Total—$254M293—Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)Confirmed

Unit costs and contract unit prices for this product, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.

Programs & awards1 awards

Linked awards1

All awards →

In service

First fielded
2003

Sources7

  1. 1.
    CompanyRTX's Raytheon awarded $1.1 billion U.S. Navy contract to produce AIM-9X Block II missiles

    RTX · Jun 26, 2026 · Supports: Government award · ceiling usd, System milestone

    “was awarded a $1.1 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to produce AIM-9X Block II missiles”
  2. 2.
    NewsHere Is What Each Of The Pentagon's Air-Launched Missiles And Bombs Actually Cost

    The War Zone · Feb 18, 2020 · Supports: Cost · amount

    “AIM-9X Sidewinder (Air Force) – $472,000”
  3. 3.
    Government recordAIM-9X: Delivering on the Promise of 21st Century Air Dominance

    U.S. Navy · Nov 13, 2003 · Supports: System, System milestone

    “celebrated today the achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of AIM-9X”
  4. 4.
    Government recordFirst production AIM-9X rolls out to the warfighter

    U.S. Navy · May 23, 2002 · Supports: System, System milestone

    “The first production next-generation AIM-9X Sidewinder was unveiled May 1”
  5. 5.
    Government recordProgram Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request

    Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “Air Intercept Missile – 9X ... Subtotal 601 355.4 293 187.8 319 185.1 -”
  6. 6.
    Government recordProgram Acquisition Cost by Weapon System: Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request

    Office of the Under Secretary of War (Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “Air Intercept Missile – 9X ... - - 122.5 - 221.4 - - -”
  7. 7.
    Government recordArmy FY 2027 Budget Estimates: Missile Procurement, Army Justification Book

    U.S. Army, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller) · Supports: Cost · amount

    “IFPC AIM-9X Interceptor Procurement(†) - - - 586.222 126 73.864 516.513 78 40.288 507.050 504 255.553”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.