US approves additional AMRAAMs for Saudi Arabia

The US has cleared the sale to Saudi Arabia of additional AMRAAMs to replenish stocks carried by its fleet of combat aircraft, including the F-15 (pictured). (Saudi Press Agency)

The United States has approved the sale to Saudi Arabia of additional RTX AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs).

The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval, which was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 2 May, covers 1,000 AIM-120C-8-variant missiles, plus spares, support, and training for an estimated USD3.5 billion.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that contributes to political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region,” the DSCA said.

The AIM-120C-8 is intended to deliver improved performance beyond the AIM-120C-7 through the use of an internal GPS, an enhanced datalink, and new software. The missile is fitted with an active radar seeker, similar to that used on the AIM-120C-7, and while sources have suggested that the AIM-120C-8 is intended to have a dual-mode seeker, capable of active and passive radio frequency (RF) homing, programme officials have denied this. The AIM-120C-8 is reported to have a range of 160 km and flies at a speed of Mach 4.

The additional AMRAAMs will replenish stocks carried by the Royal Saudi Air Force's (RSAF's) fleet of Boeing F-15C/S/SA Eagle and Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.

For more information on the AIM-120C-8, please see Saudi Arabia receives clearance to buy follow-on AMRAAM missiles .