Germany and Sweden to acquire 1,219 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles in deals totalling $3.5 billion.
The US State Department has approved two potential Foreign Military Sales to Germany and Sweden.
The announcements were made by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), a department responsible for foreign arms sales.
Germany has requested to purchase up to 969 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), along with 12 AMRAAM C8 Guidance Sections and a range of additional equipment, software, and support. The total cost of the proposed deal is estimated at $2.9 billion.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Germany of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.90 billion.”
In support of this proposed sale, the DSCA stated, “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally that is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe.”
The DSCA also approved a potential sale to Sweden. The Swedish government has requested to buy up to 250 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, along with six AMRAAM C-8 Guidance Sections and related equipment and support. The estimated cost of this proposed sale is $605 million.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Sweden of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $605 million.”
The DSCA further commented, “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 is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
These proposed sales aim to bolster the defence capabilities of the two European nations, both of which are important US allies.
What is AMRAAM?
According to the U.S. Air Force, the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) is a new generation air-to-air missile. It has an all-weather, beyond-visual-range capability and is scheduled to be operational beyond 2000. The AMRAAM is being procured for the Air Force, U.S. Navy and America’s allies.
AMRAAM is a follow-on to the AIM-7 Sparrow missile series. The missile is faster, smaller and lighter, and has improved capabilities against low-altitude targets. It incorporates active radar with an inertial reference unit and micro-computer system, which makes the missile less dependent upon the fire-control system of the aircraft. Once the missile closes on a target, its active radar guides it to intercept.
This enables the pilot to aim and fire several missiles simultaneously at multiple targets. The pilot may then perform evasive maneuvers while the missiles guide themselves to their targets.
Why didn’t the MBDA Meteor get a look in here? Something this big, someone missed it?!
Maybe from existing US stocks? Guess with mad Putin next door this is a bit of a rush rush order for both countries.
My guess would be that these are going to be sent to Ukraine for SAM’s, Germany still do use Amraam on their Typhoons alongside Meteor, in Swedens case I’m not sure why they would want them , or maybe they are for use as SAM’s in both cases
Nothing to panic about here – both Germany and Sweden will use AMRAAM ( likely significantly cheaper than/together with Meteor) – so their Short/Medium and Long Range AAM Requirements are covered.
Amraam C-8 is not significantly cheaper…C-8 and D are in the millions per round.
I suspect this is due to the ability to get them comparatively quickly, both Sweden and Germany have very low stocks of AAM’s. The RAF’s recent missile camp firing 50+ Asraam would have been impossible for most European nations.
Looking at quoted comparative prices AMRAAM is about 50% of the cost of Meteor,id say that is significantly cheaper.
This is $2.8m per missile…
Meteor’s last quoted cost was for India in 2022 at $3.2m per missile.
Hard facts regarding actual costs will be impossible to source this side of the MIC but heres my comparison – AMRAAM https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32277/here-is-what-each-of-the-pentagons-air-launched-missiles-and-bombs-actually-cost
Meteor – https://www.defensemirror.com/news/24912/MBDA_Bags____200M_Meteor_Missile_Deal_for_Brazilian_Gripen_NG_Jets
With less weight and cost and size, an aircraft can carry more AMRAAM at the same drag and cost of Meteor. Makes sense to procure both although Meteor is superior. Btw the version Germany bought is indeed the export version of D
I wonder what our current stockpile of Meteor is currently and the timeline for JNAAM.
MBDA develops advanced ceramic radome for future high-speed missiles
20 JULY 2023
“MBDA Italia has concluded development of a new advanced ceramic manufacturing process for radio frequency (RF) missile radomes claimed to offer improved strength and environmental performance compared with conventional cast silica structures.
Known internally as NIMAS, the patented material process is designed to form a high-strength, erosion-resistant structure suitable for both supersonic and hypersonic applications. Work to mature and prove the new advanced ceramic radome has been undertaken at MBDA’s Fusaro site near Naples, which is established as the key radome technology centre within the MBDA group.”
LINK
Has the UK ordered the same AMRAAM-C version for its F-35Bs? I think theres a D model coming soon too.
We’ve ordered some D’s for use on our f35’s as meteor is still some way off being cleared for use on the f35
UK already uses Amraam C-5 (although some will have been sent to Ukraine along with any B variants left in stock).
UK has ordered ‘up to’ 200 Amraam D-3, specifically for F-35 and Typhoon T1. Typhoon T2 and T3 will be pretty much exclusively Meteor.
D-3 is US and 5 Eyes Only (in practice UK, Canada and Australia). No-one else is cleared to buy it, hence why Germany and Sweden are buying C-8…
Not true. AIM 120-D3 is available for sale to NATO allies, Japan and South Korea. Norway’s request to purchase the AIM 120-D3 has received State Dept approval.
Hi Quentin, See Rudeboy’s post. we are cleared to use both AMRAAM and ASRAAM according to a post on this site.
Are we even getting JNAAM?
JNAAM is officially dead I’m afraid. The test programme will complete with firings but will go no further.
Dead? what happened? thought it was an updated meteor with Japanese tech?
Thats what it is. Its finishing the test programme and then ends. No budget line in the latest Japanese programming past 2023. The speculation is that the French in Thales and MBDA have managed to throw a spanner in the works as they were worried about losing out on work.
Not entirely sure that’s totally correct, have read that Japanese involvement has requested some £1.3 billion equivalent in Yen to proceed with this programme, as well as a further £10 billion for the next stage of Tempest. Unfortunately haven’t seen anything further one way or the other yet? Are you aware of any progress/lack of that finishes this joint venture?
Unfortunately there has been another announcement in April this year. Missed by most of the UK sites.
https://grandfleet.info/japan-related/atla-announces-completion-of-japan-uk-joint-research-on-new-air-to-air-missile/
https://twitter.com/THABOS47747375/status/1642094837611786241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1642094837611786241%7Ctwgr%5E346358f795a7328b4cd8861b5efedb1bc74a25d4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.secretprojects.co.uk%2Fthreads%2Fjoint-new-air-to-air-missile-jnaam.22481%2F
Japan does tend to fund Defence incrementally maybe its their budget system , this would explain why it was all go just last year
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/japan-approves-jnaam-co-development
I’m afraid not. The test programme will conclude with test firings but it will cease at that point.
It would seem that the AIM-120D3 value proposition trumped the JNAAM.
I’m not seeing anything in your quoted articles suggested JNAAM is dead, merely the PofC phase nearing completion.
Lets consider :
1) It’s unlikely this amount of time & money have been spent by both MBDA & Mitsubishi on a dead-end project.
2) The Japanese do like their design study approach, incrementally informing the finished article. (precedent, the Taigei Class, see WiKi etc.)
3) The AAM-4 is an impressive weapon but it doesn’t fit in F-35 so take the best AAM airframe and attach the best seeker and yep, we see where this is going).4) Tempest etc. I wont state the obvious.
Just my thought, but “cease at that point”, not necessarily , not necessarily at all.
That is bad news, the new seeker would have been a useful addition if it had panned out as expected.
So ……@$3million per missile for a descent quantity. Wow….
And again, thanks to Putin and his sad, murderous and illegal gamble with his invasion of Ukraine, he has reminded the West how much we were neglecting our defences, and subsequently many countries continue to get a grip, get their shit together and improve all aspects of the military. Cheer Pooptin.
Spot on
I notice that the State Department anouncements are really ‘boilerplate”, i.e. cut-and-paste the same wording whenever a sale is approved to a particular country.
Are there 1200 Russian aircraft?
Its wise to assume with any missile that you wont get anywhere near a 100% kill rate so plan accordingly.