Finnish Air Force to receive AIM 9X Block II Sidewinder tactical missiles and AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off weapons.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency on November 28 announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Finland of AIM 9X Block II tactical missiles, AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapons (JSOW) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $323.3 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

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An F-16C releases an AGM-154 JSOW over the Utah Test and Training Range (Picture source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Government of Finland has requested to buy forty (40) AIM 9X Block II tactical missiles; four (4) AIM 9X Block II tactical guidance units; and forty-eight (48) AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapons (JSOW). Also included are Dummy Air Training Missiles (DATM); Captive Air Training Missile (CATM); Captive Flight Vehicles (CFVs); Free Flight Vehicles (FFVs); containers; mission planning; integration support and testing; munitions storage security and training; weapon operational flight program software development; transportation; tools and test equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services; books and other publications; training; training aids and devices; space parts; support equipment; weapon system software support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering; technical and logistics support services; studies and surveys; missile technical assistance; other technical assistance; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The total estimated cost is $323.3 million.

Finland intends to use these air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons and services for its fighter aircraft fleet.

The principal contractors will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, AZ. Implementation of the proposed sale will require U.S. Government and contractor representatives to visit Finland on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements, including program and technical reviews.

Expended sub-munition AGM-154 JSOW on display at the Belgrade Aviation Museum in Serbia (Picture source: Wikimedia Commons)