The U.S. State Department has approved the sale to Australia of AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) worth up to $240.5 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
Australia asked to buy the new AIM-120C-7 AMRAAMs, produced by Raytheon, last year.
According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Government of Australia has requested to buy up to 108 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAMs; six AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM Air Vehicles Instrumented; and six spare AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM guidance sections.
“This sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Western Pacific. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
The estimated total program cost is $240.5 million.
According to the Raytheon, the AMRAAM air-to-air missile is the world’s most sophisticated air dominance weapon. With more than 25 years of design, upgrades, testing and production, the AIM-120 missile continues to meet all warfighter requirements. Its capabilities have been fully demonstrated in more than 4,200 test shots and 10 air-to-air combat victories.
Procured by 37 countries including the U.S., the combat-proven AMRAAM missile has been integrated onto the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado and Harrier. The AIM-120C5 and AIM-120C7 missiles are fully integrated onto the F-35 and support the U.S. Marine Corp’s F-35B initial operational capability as the only air-to-air missile qualified on the F-35.
