AIM-120D-3 Air-to-Air Missile

May 17, 2023

An AIM-120D-3 sits at Raytheon’s Tucson, AZ, plant. The AIM-120D-3 is the latest variant of the combat-proven AMRAAM, developed under the Form, Fit, Function refresh, known as F3R. (Image: Raytheon)

The U.S. Air Force has completed the functional configuration audit (FCA) of the latest variant of Raytheon Technologies' Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). The AMRAAM AIM-120D-3 is on-track toward fielding by both the Air Force and Navy this year.

The AIM-120D-3 features modernized hardware, including 15 upgraded circuit cards in the missile's guidance section, developed with model-based systems engineering initiatives under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) program. F3R was first established by the Air Force as an upgrade to AMRAAM in 2021.

AIM-120-3 also uses the latest System Improvement Program-3F software, allowing the system to receive continuous Agile software enhancements.

"Integrated on 14 platforms in 42 countries, AMRAAM is the only fielded air-to-air weapon with the ability to counter peer threats at extended range," said Paul Ferraro, President, Air Power, Raytheon Missiles & Defense. "The AIM-120D-3 takes the known and trusted AMRAAM to the next level to meet the evolving needs of the warfighter and combatant commanders."

The AIM-120D-3 Functional Configuration Audit follows a test program encompassing captive carry missions, platform bench testing and a series of live firings from multiple Air Force and Navy platforms — proving out the weapon's effectiveness. F3R testing continues with the AIM-120 C-8 variant — designed for international customers — with FCA expected on that version later this year.

All AMRAAMs planned for production are D3 or C8 variants incorporating the F3R functionality.

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