The State Department approved two possible Foreign Military Sales (FMSs) for the United Kingdom and Denmark to purchase a combined 228 Raytheon [RTN] AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) worth a total of $740 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the two FMSs on July 10.
The U.K. approval includes a request for up to 200 AIM-120D AMRAAMs costing $650 million. This sale also includes missile containers, support and test equipment, transportation, repair, warranties, spare and repair parts, and other logistical and technical program support.
DSCA said the missiles will improve the U.K. Royal Air Force’s mutual defense, regional security, force modernization and U.S/NATO interoperability capabilities.
Separately, the Denmark order covers 28 AIM-120 C-7 AMRAAMs and one spare guidance section for $90 million. This sale also includes associated equipment as well as various logistical and technical program support.
“This proposed sale would support Denmark’s F-16 and future F-35 fighter programs and enhance Denmark’s ability to provide for its own territorial defense and support coalition operations,” DSCA said in a statement.
The agency also noted the sale enables interoperability and standardization between Denmark and the U.S. military. Denmark currently maintains the AIM-120B and DSCA said it would have no problems adding the extra support and equipment for the AIM-120D.
While there are no known offset agreements for the U.K. sale, Denmark has requested offsets. Any eventual agreements will be defined in negotiations between Denmark and the contractor, Raytheon.
Implementation of the both sales would not require assigning any further U.S. government ort contractor representatives to Europe.
The AMRAAM AIM-120 C-7 variant has range and homing improvements over older models while the AIM-120D further improves the missile’s navigation, kinematics, lethality, and has hardware and software updates to enhance electronic protection capabilities. The U.S. Navy finished initial operating capability (IOC) with the 120D in Jan. 2015.
The AMRAAM is in use in the U.S. Navy and Air Force with the F/A-18C/D Hornet, E/F Super Hornet, F-15, F-16, and F-22. It is also in use by NATO allies with the AV-8B Harrier, Eurofighter 2000, F-1C, F-4, F-15, F-16, Hornet, and JAS-39 aircraft.