Australia seeks to procure new AIM-120C-8/D-3 missiles

An AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile at Raytheon's Tucson, Arizona, plant. The AIM-120C-8 is the export version of the AIM-120D. (RTX Corporation)

The US Department of State has approved a potential sale of new AIM-120C and AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to Australia under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

The approval of the potential sale follows a request from the Australian government to buy up to 200 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs and up to 200 AIM-120D-3 AMRAAMs, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on 9 April.

The possible deal, which includes support and related equipment, has an estimated value of USD1.04 billion.

The AIM-120D-3 is the latest variant of the AMRAAM and incorporates System Improvement Program (SIP) Tape 3F software. This is a form, fit, and function (F3) hardware refresh that mitigates systemic hardware obsolescence issues in the AIM-120D's guidance section. The ‘D-3' variant is an F3R replacement for the AIM-120D.

The AIM-120C-8 is an export-only missile, which is also an F3R hardware variant and resembles the AIM-120D. The C-8, however, has different software and not the SIP Tape 3F. Both the AIM-120C-8 and the D-3 variants have an estimated maximum range of 160 km.

Non-major defence equipment also included in the proposed sale are AMRAAM containers and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, repair and return support; weapons system support and software; classified software delivery and support; classified publications and technical documentation; transportation support; and studies and surveys.

US government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support are also included in the approved sale.