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U.S. Navy and Air Force Developing Compact Variant of AIM-9X Sidewinder Missile
The U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force are collaborating on a compact version of the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to enhance internal carriage on advanced aircraft. The Navy has requested $83.3 million for fiscal year 2027 to advance the project. The new variant aims to provide improved range and performance in a smaller airframe.
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Development Overview The U.S. Navy and U.S.
Air Force are developing a compact variant of the AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile. The Navy, which manages the Sidewinder program in cooperation with the Air Force, has requested $83.3 million in its fiscal year 2027 budget for work on this AIM-9X Compact Variant.
The Air Force's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget mentions the project but states it will not contribute funding until fiscal year 2028. Risk reduction efforts for the compact variant began in fiscal year 2025 under the System Improvement Plan IV upgrade program.
The new missile repackages that technology into a smaller airframe designed for internal carriage on advanced aircraft, according to Navy budget documents. It is intended to offer greater standoff range, improved kinematic performance, and increased aircraft weapon station capacity while maintaining inner boundary performance.
In fiscal year 2027, the program plans to advance hardware and software designs, focusing on critical components and compatibility with advanced platforms. This includes platform integration, material and energetics studies, modeling, simulation, analysis, system safety analysis, and risk-reduction testing.
The Navy's budget documents state these efforts will mature the complete system baseline. The compact variant builds on the capabilities of current AIM-9X Block II and Block II+ missiles, which feature imaging infrared guidance, thrust-vectoring, high-off-boresight targeting, and lock-on-after-launch functions.
