Orders approved for AIM-120C-7 AMRAAMs
Published: Nov. 16, 2009 at 2:55 PM
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Kuwait, Morocco and Jordan have been approved to purchase AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles from Raytheon for air defense operations.
U.S. company Raytheon announced Kuwait, Morocco and Jordan have received Letters of Offer and Acceptance from the U.S. government, which approves the country's orders for the company's AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM missile technology.
The Foreign Military Sales contract is for an undisclosed quantity of missiles from Raytheon. Officials say the AMRAAM will support ongoing defense operations in air-to-air scenarios among other requirements.
"The AIM-120C-7 provides unparalleled air combat and air defense capabilities," Col. Michael Andersen, commander of the U.S. Air Force's 328th Armament Systems Group, said in a statement.
"By equipping our allies with the AIM-120C-7 through the Foreign Military Sales program, the U.S. government strengthens regional security
and promotes coalition interoperability."
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Se...ed-for-AIM-120C-7-AMRAAMs/UPI-96231258401334/
Citation:
Raytheon aims high on AMRAAM sales
November 16th, 2009 | Uncategorized | Posted by Andrew Chuter
Raytheons AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile continues to notch up customers in the Gulf region with Saudi Arabia being added to a lengthening list of countries either buying the weapon for the first time or having their inventories upgraded to the latest standard.
Rico Rodriguez, the senior business development manager for AMRAAM, said that the U.S. government is processing a draft letter of agreement with the Saudis along with a request from the Bahraini government to upgrade their respective air forces with the C-7 version.
A Raytheon spokesman declined to indicate a timescale for when the draft letters of agreement might be firmed up saying it was a matter for the governments involved.
The C-7 weapon, which features an improved guidance system along with other changes, is the latest exportable variant of the wide-selling missile.
The C-7 standard weapon will be followed on the production line by the AIM-120D version.The latest development is destined for the US military but has yet to be fielded. It is some time away from being cleared for export.
The draft LOAs for Saudi and Bahrain are the culmination of what has been a busy year for AMRAAM in the Middle East and North Africa regions.At the IDEX show in Abu Dhabi in February the United Arab Emirates announced its already formidable fleet of F-16 Block 60 fighter was to be upgraded with the addition of the latest C-7 variant to its inventory.
That has now been followed by an agreement with Jordan which has signed up to upgrade its F-16s air-to-air capability to the C-7 standard.
To complete the wider regional picture, Rodriguez said that Kuwait is adding its name to the list of new customers for the weapon.
The Gulf state joins Morocco in the North Africa region as a recent new customer for the missile.
The U.S. missile maker is now looking to follow-up its AIM-120C-7 success in the air-to-air market with further sales of the surface launched version of the weapon.
Rodriguez said Raytheon was in dialogue with three potential Middle East customers over a surface launched sale. He declined to name the countrys.
The UAE has signaled its interest in a possible purchase of the weapon and the U.S. government sought Congressional approval of the deal in 2008.
Raytheon officials at the show said those neotiations are ongoing.
The U.S. company is exploring the concept of marrying the AIM-120C-7 guidance section with an improved rocket motor to produce a new version of the missile for the surface launched market, said Rodriquez.
Raytheon is exploring possible financial and industrial partnership options in the Gulf region and elsewhere on development of he weapon he said.
http://defensenews.com/blogs/dubai-air-show/2009/11/raytheon-aims-high-on-amraam-sales/