Poland signs for hundreds of latest-variant AMRAAM missiles for F-35A

A Polish Air Force F-35A Husarz at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in the US. Poland has now ordered AIM-120D-3 AMRAAMs to arm them. (US Air Force)

Poland has signed for an undisclosed number of RTX AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to equip its future fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Husarz combat aircraft.

The country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, announced the USD500 million agreement on 27 November, seven months after the US Department of State approved the sale to Poland of 400 AIM-120D-3 AMRAAMs for an estimated USD1.33 billion.

“This is another agreement with the United States government for the purchase of modern armaments, including missiles for Polish aircraft,” the minister said.

The AIM-120D-3 is a form, fit, function refresh (F3R) of the AIM-120D, which entered service in 2015. The refresh includes upgraded guidance circuit cards, which allow for GPS-guided mid-course flight and enable regular software updates versus block version improvements. According to Janes Weapons: Air-Launched, the AIM-120D-3 has an estimated range of 160 km.

The deal will see Poland join Australia, Canada, Norway, the UK, and the US in fielding the AIM-120D-3 version of the AMRAAM. With additional missiles likely to follow beyond those now ordered for the F-35A, in Polish service it will ultimately also equip its fleet of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagles and Lockheed Martin F‐16C/D Block 52+ Fighting Falcons.

For more information on the Polish Air Force, please seeFeature: Poland accelerates and expands revamp of air force to counter Russia .