The Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) at Edwards AFB, California, has made the first guided AIM-9X test launch.
Maj Bill Peris, 416th Flight Test Squadron test pilot, fired the AIM-9X from an F-16 on 8 July against a subscale drone. Maj Peris acquired the drone and tracked it using the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), which is also under test at Edwards and is being integrated with the new agile missile.
After the flight, Maj Peris said: "The missile performed as was anticipated and proved its combat effectiveness against the acquired target.
The aircraft has always excelled in the visual arena, and with this weapon it will be untouchable."
The trial was part of the M4+ software update for the USAF's F-16 Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP). The Block 50 F-16CJs at Farnborough come from the 52nd Fighter Wing (FW) at Spangdahlem, Germany, and have been through the CCIP upgrade. The 52nd FW was the first unit to enter Phase II of CCIP, fully-equipping its aircraft with all new CCIP hardware.
Source: Flight Daily News