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Raytheon and NATO Launch Drive to Qualify European AMRAAM Suppliers

The initiative funds feasibility studies to qualify European makers for key AMRAAM components so deliveries can be sped up, freeing U.S. factories to raise output.

AMRAAM Missile launch
Pictured is a U.S. Air Force photo of U.S. Air Force personnel from the 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit moving an AIM-120 AMRAAM during an annual weapons load competition on Feb. 3, 2023 at Luke AFB, Ariz.
The combat-proven AMRAAM has been selected by more than 40 nations. Credit: USAF.

Overview

  • Raytheon, with U.S. government support and NATO partners, launched ally-funded feasibility studies and held a signing at the NATO summit on Tuesday to qualify additional European suppliers for priority AIM-120 AMRAAM components.
  • A Reuters report says U.S. officials are also in talks with Germany and other states about broader co-production of AMRAAM and a possible PAC-3 Patriot maintenance facility in Europe, but that reporting is based on an anonymous source and remains at the discussion stage.
  • Allied funding for the studies is meant to speed deliveries, increase manufacturing capacity in Europe, and reduce supply-chain risks that have slowed missile shipments from U.S. factories.
  • RTX said it is pursuing parallel work to expand Stinger production with Diehl Defence and add assembly in the Netherlands, and it expects more NATO countries to join the AMRAAM effort.
  • The push follows heavy demand for advanced air-defence missiles from operations in Ukraine and conflicts involving Iran, a situation that has strained U.S. stockpiles and prompted policy moves such as invoking the Defense Production Act to boost munitions output.