USAF Testing Variants Enhanced Under F3R Initiative
Raytheon Missiles & Defense (RMD) has been awarded a contract by the US Air Force, valued at $972 million, for the upgraded Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The contract caters to the requirements of 19 countries in addition to US forces.
This is the first AMRAAM contract to procure an entire lot of the AIM-120DC and AIM-120C8 variants developed under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) programme, which updates both hardware and software. “This contract underscores the importance of AMRAAM in the warfighters’ arsenal,” said Paul Ferraro, President of Air Power for RMD. “These missiles, developed under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh, have the most advanced hardware and software needed to compete with peer adversaries.”
Under F3R, engineers used model-based systems engineering initiatives and other digital technologies to upgrade multiple circuit cards and other hardware in the missile’s guidance section and re-host legacy software. These variants now combine System Improvement Program 3F software updates with F3R hardware, providing significantly enhanced capability against advanced threats.
The USAF conducted its first live-fire test of a production AIM-120D3 in June and plans two additional live fire events this year.
