total order for missiles to all customers.--Stephen V Cole

The AIM-9X air-to-air heat-seeking missile (the latest upgrade to the venerable Sidewinder) is getting ready for production. In the latest tests, F-15s used two of these missiles to shoot down QF-4 drones (modified from old F-4 Phantom II fighter planes).--Stephen V Cole

July 20, 2000; Denmark, Norway, and Belgium are due to make a decision late this year or early next year on a short-range dogfight missile to arm their F-16 fighters after their Mid Life Upgrade. The two choices are the American AIM-9X (the latest version of Sidewinder) and the European IRIS-T missile.--Stephen V