Raytheon tapped to enable Kuwaiti F/A-18s for AIM-9X, AIM-120 missiles

Raytheon Co. was chosen to build guided missile launchers enabling F/A-18 fighter planes of Kuwait to fire a variety of missiles.

The Defense Department announced the $47.3 million contract on Tuesday.

The company's Intelligence, Information and Services section in Indianapolis, Ind., will procure 99 LAU-115 and 100 LAU-116 guided missile launchers for the Navy, and 62 LAU-115 and 68 LAU-116 guided missile launchers for the government of Kuwait.

The modifications will allow F/A-18 Hornet to carry and launch AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, as well as AIM-120 missiles.

The missile variants, each an air-to-air missile designed to shoot down enemy planes and projectiles, are based on designs from the 1950s and 1960s, and each is regarded as reliable, standard equipment in air forces of the United States and its allies. The launchers currently in use allow only one model of the missiles to be carried.

Work will be performed in Raytheon's Indianapolis facility, with an expected July 2022 completion date.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Wreckage of missing Japan fighter jet found, pilot missing
Tokyo (AFP) April 10, 2019
Wreckage from a Japanese F-35A stealth fighter jet has been found a day after it disappeared off the radar over the Pacific, the country's defence minister said Wednesday. There was no word yet on the fate of the one pilot on board the jet, Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya said. "We have collected part of its tail" in search operations at sea with planes and vessels, Iwaya told reporters. "We believe it crashed," he added. The fighter jet went missing around 7:30 pm (1030 GMT) Tuesday as i ... read more