US approves possible foreign military sale of AIM-120C AMRAAM to Saudi Arabia.

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $650 million. 

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An AIM-120 AMRAAM mounted on the wingtip launcher of an F-16 Fighting Falcon (Picture source: US Air Force)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy two hundred eighty (280) AIM-120C-7/C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and five hundred ninety-six (596) LAU-128 Missile Rail Launchers (MRL). Also included are containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The total estimated cost is $650 million.

This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its stocks of medium-range missiles for its fighter aircraft fleet for its national defense. This potential sale will support Saudi Arabia’s Eurofighter Typhoon, F-15C/D, F-15S, and F-I5SA programs and will further strengthen the interoperability between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces.

The principal contractor will be Raytheon, Waltham, MA. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale; however, the purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.