The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Romania of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 14 May 2024.
The proposed sale, valued at an estimated USD 340.8 million (EUR 313.4 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval
Romania has requested to buy up to 300 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles; 40 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II guidance units; 40 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II captive air training missiles (CATMs); and 20 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II CATM guidance units. Also included are missile containers; personnel training and training equipment; technical documents; warranties; US government engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and programme support.
“The proposed sale will improve Romania’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing air-to-air missiles for its F-16 fleet in support of NATO’s defence mission,” the DSCA stated.
The principal contractor for the sale will be RTX Corporation out of its facilities in Tucson, Arizona.
Following the retirement of its MiG-21 LanceR fleet in 15 May 2023, the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) currently operates 17 refurbished ex-Portuguese F-16AM/BMs that were acquired between October 2016 and March 2021. In November 2022 Romania also agreed a contract worth USD 385 million with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency to acquire 32 F-16A/Bs retired by the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The deliveries of these aircraft are scheduled to conclude in 2024.
