Raytheon and a coalition of North Atlantic Treaty Organization member nations have entered into an agreement that opens the path for the first production of advanced medium-range air-to-air missile components on European territory. The defense contractor, which is a subsidiary of RTX, announced the development following a recent NATO summit held in Turkey.
The company stated that it is collaborating with the U.S. government and several other allied countries to undertake a series of feasibility studies. These studies aim to qualify new suppliers located in Europe to provide priority components for the AMRAAM missile program.
This initiative marks a shift in the supply chain for the advanced air-to-air missile, allowing for manufacturing capabilities to be established outside of the United States for the first time. The agreement clears the way for these new production capabilities to be evaluated and potentially implemented.
Details regarding the specific timeline for the feasibility studies or the identity of the European suppliers being considered were not provided in the initial announcement. The scope of the partnership and the specific technical requirements for the new components remain to be fully detailed by the participating parties.
The move comes as NATO members continue to assess their defense industrial bases and supply chain resilience. The agreement represents a step toward diversifying the sources of critical missile components for allied air forces.