An Italian Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 32nd Wing, Amendola Air Base, Italy, taxis while a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off during Astral Knight 2021 (AK21) at Aviano Air Base, Italy on May 21, 2021 (U.S. Air Force Photo)
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The State Department last Friday approved a potential $90.6 million foreign military sale (FMS) of AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles to Italy for use in training with the country’s F-35 fighter aircraft.
The $90 million sale price includes two earlier FMS cases, one valued at $34.1 million and another at $17.6 million. The updated FMS is for a combined total of 66 Sidewinder Block II+ tactical missiles, seven Block II+ tactical guidance kits, 24 captive air training missiles (CATM), four CATM guidance kits, and additional equipment and support.
RTX [RTX] is the principal contractor for the Sidewinders.
Italy is buying 90 F-35s.