Pentagon eyes AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder air-to-air missile sale for Netherlands F-16 jet fighters
WASHINGTON, 18 Oct. 2012. U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) officials are considering a sale of 28 advanced AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missiles to the Royal Netherlands Air Force in The Hague, Netherlands to upgrade the organization's fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon jet fighter aircraft.
Officials of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in Washington announced Wednesday they have notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Netherlands for 28 AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II all-up-round missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.
The Netherlands air force has asked for 28 AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II all-up-round missiles, 20 CATM-9X-2 Captive Air Training Missiles, 2 AIM-9X-2 NATM Special Air Training Missiles, 2 CATM-9X-2 Block II Missile Guidance Units, 2 AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical Guidance Units, 2 Dummy Air Training Missiles, containers, missile support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related logistics support.
If the sale is approved, the AIM-9X maker Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz., would receive a contract for about $60 million, DSCA officials say. The DSCA is the DOD's agency for supporting allies who promote U.S. military interests.
The AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range missile is a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force program in use by more than 40 nations. AIM-9X capabilities include high off boresight acquisition and launch in high clutter and infrared countermeasures environments and agility for first shot, first kill dogfight air combat, Raytheon officials say. The AIM-9X was approved for full-rate production in 2004.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force is modernizing its fighter aircraft for Netherlands air defense, DSCA officials say. The proposed sale also will improve Netherlands air force ability to work together with the U.S. and other NATO members.
DSCA officials caution that their notice of a potential sale does not mean the sale has been concluded.
For more information contact the DSCA online at www.dsca.mil, the Royal Netherlands Air Force at www.defensie.nl/english/air_force, or Raytheon Missile Systems at www.raytheon.com/businesses/rms.
Follow Military & Aerospace Electronics and Avionics Intelligence news updates on Twitter
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
