AIM-9x missile fired from an F/A-18C

The Pentagon is ordering more missiles from Raytheon, and that means more work – and more Defense Department dollars – are coming home to Valencia.

The Navy announced Thursday it has awarded a $69 million modification to a Raytheon missile contract. Raytheon is in Tucson, but 5.71 percent of the work, valued at $3.93 million, will be subcontracted out to a pair of Valencia companies.

Woodward HRT (formerly Hydraulic Research-Textron) builds the sophisticated tail fins for Raytheon’s AIM-9x missile, and specialty electronics manufacturer Cicoil LLC supplies a cable assembly. Both are located in the Valencia Industrial Center and both get a piece of the new contract, a Raytheon spokesman said in September when the original $62 million contract was announced.

At that time, only half as much work – 2.81 percent, or $1.75 million – was to be performed in Valencia.

The original contract with Raytheon called for 60 AIM-9x tactical missiles (30 for the Navy and 30 for the Air Force) and 60 captive air training missiles (20 for the Navy and 40 for the Air Force), along with 60 active optical target detectors (30 Navy, 30 Air Force) and 34 containers (14 Navy, 20 Air Force).

Raytheon's AIM-9x air-to-air missile in flight

The modified contract increases the number of tactical missiles and optical target detectors to 115 each (66 Air Force, 49 Navy), among other change orders.

The AIM-9x is a short-range, air-to-air combat missile, similar to a Sidewinder but with an improved sighting cone, smaller fins for reduced drag, and added maneuverability in Woodward HRT’s tail fins.

The contracting agency is the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Md. The contract combines purchased for the Air Force ($36 million, or 52.34 percent) and Navy ($33 million, 47.66 percent).