The United States has approved a possible $125 million Foreign Military Sale to South Korea covering 103 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles, additional guidance units and associated support, the UK Defence Journal understands.
The US Department of State announced the determination on 21 August under Foreign Military Sales transmittal 26-78. The package requested by the Republic of Korea includes 103 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles and ten AIM-9X Block II Tactical Guidance Units.
Associated equipment and services would include active optical target detectors, training, weapon-system support, training aids and devices, spare parts and US Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support.
The estimated value of the complete package is $125 million. As with other Foreign Military Sales notifications, the figure represents the estimated value of the proposed programme rather than necessarily the value of any eventual contract.
The State Department said the proposed sale would support US foreign policy and national security objectives through South Korea’s role as an American ally in the Indo-Pacific. It also said the weapons would expand the country’s air-defence capability and support interoperability with US forces.
In its notification, the department stated that the sale would “help improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by expanding its air defense capability, deterring aggression in the region, and ensuring interoperability with U.S. Forces.”
It added: “The Republic of Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The AIM-9X is the current generation of the Sidewinder family of short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles used by the United States and a number of allied air forces. The Block II version incorporates updated guidance and electronics compared with earlier variants and is designed for employment from compatible fighter aircraft using both traditional and high-off-boresight engagements.
South Korea already operates a substantial fleet of US-designed combat aircraft, including the F-15K Slam Eagle, KF-16 and F-35A Lightning II, alongside domestically developed types. The country continues to modernise its combat-air inventory while maintaining close operational links with US forces stationed on the Korean Peninsula and elsewhere in the region.
The principal contractor identified for the proposed sale is RTX Corporation, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The State Department said it was not currently aware of any offset agreement associated with the potential programme, with any such arrangement to be determined separately between the purchaser and contractor.
