US Air Force Integrates AMRAAM Missiles Onto CCA Drones.

The U.S. Air Force, in collaboration with Raytheon, is integrating the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) onto its first series of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones. These unmanned systems are part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which envisions these drones flying alongside fifth- and sixth-generation manned aircraft.
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The AIM-120 AMRAAM Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile. (Picture source: US DoD)

Raytheon has confirmed its involvement in this effort, working with the Air Force and two competing vendors, General Atomics and Anduril, who are currently in the development phase for the production of CCA Increment 1. Jon Norman, Raytheon’s vice president for air and space defense systems, discussed the missile integration during a meeting with reporters, following initial reports published by Air and Space Forces Magazine in July.

“We are collaborating with the Air Force on their CCA program to integrate the AMRAAM onto the Increment 1 drones. CCA Increment 2 is still in the early requirements phase,” said Norman. The CCA drones are set to be developed in phases, allowing for progressive improvements in their design and capabilities. The Air Force plans for these drones to carry various payloads for missions ranging from intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to offensive strikes. According to Norman, the AMRAAM has been designated as the “reference weapon” for these drones.

“The AMRAAM allows manned aircraft, such as the F-35 Lightning II or F-22 Raptor, to extend their combat capabilities. These drones can act as force multipliers, strategically positioned to use the AMRAAMs under the control of the manned aircraft,” he explained.

In April, General Atomics and Anduril were awarded contracts to design detailed prototypes and conduct flight tests for the first series of CCA drones. Once the design is finalized, these companies, along with other interested vendors, will be able to compete for the final production contract, expected to be awarded in 2026.

The Air Force plans to present full-scale models of the prototypes from General Atomics and Anduril during the Air, Space, and Cyber conference in September, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

Raytheon has focused on improving the range, navigation, and anti-jamming capabilities of the AMRAAM as part of this integration. Although the company has not specified which variant of the missile will be used on the CCAs, the most recent variant, the AIM-120D, has an estimated range of approximately 160 kilometers.

In preparation for a new series of tests under the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program, Raytheon is working to demonstrate the extended range of the missile. While no changes were made to the missile’s propulsion system, adjustments were made to its flight path to conserve kinetic energy during long-range engagements, thus increasing its effectiveness upon impact.

“This allows us to regain parity, and even surpass, many global threats. It also makes the AMRAAM more resilient against future threats,” concluded Norman.