Miles Jamison 
- Raytheon will ramp up production of AMRAAM missiles to meet emerging needs
- The award supports the Department of War’s Arsenal of Freedom initiative
- Raytheon previously committed to producing at least 1,900 AMRAAM missiles annually
Raytheon, an RTX business, has received a five-year contract with two option years valued at up to $20.7 billion to support production of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs, for the Department of War.
The company said Monday the award comes under the department’s Arsenal of Freedom initiative and builds on a prior agreement to produce a minimum of 1,900 AMRAAM missiles per year. The 1,900-missile commitment stems from five agreements Raytheon signed with the War Department in February, which also target annual production of more than 1,000 Tomahawk missiles and more than 500 Standard Missile-6 interceptors.
Michael Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment and a 2026 Wash100 Award winner, said the War Department is collaborating with the defense industry to ramp production and build the Arsenal of Freedom. According to Duffey, the award strengthens the department’s ability to equip the Joint Force and allied nations with a proven air-to-air capability.
What Is AMRAAM?
Raytheon President Phil Jasper described AMRAAM as a combat-proven air dominance weapon trusted by the U.S. and its allies. He said it provides beyond-visual-range lethality through advanced guidance and electronic protection in contested environments.
The fifth-generation AMRAAM is the primary interceptor for air-to-air missions and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS. Raytheon said the missile is integrated into 14 host systems and has been fielded by 44 countries. Advanced processors in the upgraded AMRAAM allow for software updates.
How Is Raytheon Expanding AMRAAM Production?
The contract will support Raytheon’s efforts to expand AMRAAM production amid what Phil Jasper has observed as growing demand among U.S. and international customers. RTX said it has nearly doubled the production of AMRAAM and other critical munitions in 2025 from the previous year after working with small and midsized suppliers nationwide to boost output.
The Department of War said the award is part of an effort to expand the munitions industrial base and sustain AMRAAM production. The company has also begun exploring international co-production to meet long-term operational needs.
“We continue to make significant investments in our workforce, technology, supply chain and facilities to rapidly scale production capacity and meet surging demand from the U.S. Air Force, Navy and our international partners,” said Jasper.
