The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Germany of 969 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announced on 19 July 2023.
The proposed sale, which is valued at an estimated USD 2.9 Bn (EUR 2.61 BN) and includes additional equipment, spares and support, has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM has already been introduced into the Luftwaffe’s inventory and can be fired by the Eurofighter. The version of the missile that the Luftwaffe already has can accelerate up to four times the speed of sound and is used to engage air targets at medium range, as the Luftwaffe writes on its website.
The missile, which is 3.66 m long and weighs 160 kg, uses a radar seeker in conjunction with a radar proximity fuse to find its target.
The Lockheed Martin F-35A, which is scheduled to enter service with the Luftwaffe in 2026, is also capable of firing the AIM-120C-8. As part of the F-35 order the German government has already ordered 105 AIM-120C AMRAAMs, among other weapons, for the fifth-generation fighter. Germany has thus created the contractual potential to procure 1,074 AIM-120C AMRAAMs.
The principal contractor for this latest AMRAAM sale is Raytheon Missiles and Defense. According to the DSCA, there are no plans for German companies to be involved in the work.
Ole Henckel
