Raytheon has secured a contract valued at up to $20.7 billion to expand and accelerate production of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The five-year agreement includes two option years and supports the Pentagon’s “Arsenal of Freedom” initiative, which seeks to strengthen US manufacturing, speed up weapons acquisition and increase the defence industry’s ability to respond to wartime requirements. The deal follows a February agreement between RTX and the Pentagon requiring the company to increase annual AMRAAM production to at least 1,900 missiles. AMRAAM is widely used as a primary beyond-visual-range air-to-air weapon by US and allied fighter aircraft and also serves as the principal interceptor for the ground-based NASAMS air-defence system. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, including operations involving Iran, have increased demand for replenishing US and allied missile stocks. RTX has sought to raise output by working with hundreds of small and medium-sized suppliers across the United States. The company is also exploring international co-production and announced in July that it was seeking European suppliers for AMRAAM components.
