The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Saudi Arabia for an estimated cost of $650m the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated in a November 4 release.

According to the DSCA, Saudi Arabia requested the procurement of 280 AIM-120C-7/C-8-variant AMRAAMs and 596 LAU-128 Missile Rail Launchers (MRL), in addition to weapon and equipment support, spare and repair parts, and technical and logistical support services.

This potential sale will support Saudi Arabia’s Eurofighter Typhoon, F-15C/D, F-15S, and F-I5SA programmes and will further strengthen the interoperability between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the DSCA stated. The principal contractor will be US-based defence OEM Raytheon.

The AMRAAM family of missiles have been procured for use by 41 countries worldwide and integrated onto platforms such as F-15A/B/C/D/E Eagle/Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-22 Raptor, Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, Tornado and Harrier.

Manufacturer Raytheon Missile & Defense states that the newest variant is the only radar-guided air-to-air missile cleared to fly on the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter.