U.S. Navy Develops Compact AIM-9X Missiles for F-35 Fighter Jets and Combat Drones

The U.S. Navy is advancing development of the Raytheon AIM-9X Compact Variant to give stealth fighters and future unmanned combat aircraft a higher internal missile load without sacrificing low-observable performance. The FY2027 budget request, which allocates $83.3 million for Navy-led work and identifies future U.S. Air Force participation from FY2028, signals a broader joint-service effort to increase air-to-air lethality and magazine depth for next-generation combat operations. The compact missile is designed to solve a critical limitation facing aircraft such as the F-22, F-35, and future Collaborative Combat Aircraft, where internal weapons bay space directly constrains combat endurance and engagement capacity. By reducing the size of the AIM-9X while preserving short-range air combat effectiveness, the program supports a wider shift toward stealth-optimized loadouts, autonomous teaming, and sustained air dominance in highly contested environments. Read more...

Raytheon AIM-9X Compact Variant development aims to give U.S. stealth fighters and future unmanned combat aircraft a smaller infrared-guided air-to-air missile for internal weapons bays, improving missile carriage, passive engagement options, and short-range air combat flexibility (Picture source: U.S. DoW).

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