"I need to see the program progress before I would procure more weapons," US Air Force Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch told Defense News in a report published Thursday. The Massachusetts-based defense firm is "committed to taking care of it, but I’m just not comfortable right now that I would want to put additional procurement [funds] into it and put more stress on what I’m already trying to do," Bunch said.
A technical error with the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) caused USAF and the US Navy to reduce missile acquisition from Raytheon by hundred of projectiles, Defense News noted. The armed services have identified the Application Specific Integrated Circuit chip processor as the key limiting factor. ASIC is also a Raytheon program.
The Air Force said there are no alternatives to ASIC for the missiles.
Capitol Hill lawmakers offered to channel more financing into the program in hopes of bringing a resolution. But the Pentagon found this strategy to be less than prudent. "We would love to buy more, sir," Bunch told the House Armed Services Committee in June, "but I need [Raytheon] to get the production right."
“We’re in exactly the same place,” US Navy Vice Adm. Paul Grosklags added.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet deployed a Raytheon AMRAAM missile when it downed a Syrian Su-22 June.
