US State Department Approves Sale of 100 AIM-120C-7/8 AMRAAM Missiles to Spain

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Spain of one hundred (100) AIM-120C-7/8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and one (1) AMRAAM Guidance Section (spare) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $248.5 million.

The Government of Spain has requested to buy one hundred (100) AIM-120C-7/8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and one (1) AMRAAM Guidance Section (spare). Also included are KGV-135A encryption devices; containers; weapon support and support equipment; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Spain in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale will improve Spain’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its stocks of AMRAAMs for its fighter aircraft fleets in support of national defense. The potential sale will further strengthen the interoperability between the United States and Spain. Spain will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces. The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, AZ. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally which is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

Spanish personnel maintaining and preparing a NASAMS launcher with AIM-120 AMRAAM missile at Lievlarde Air Base, Latvia. (Photo by Spanish Army)

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. It uses active transmit-receive radar guidance instead of semi-active receive-only radar guidance. It is a fire-and-forget weapon, unlike the previous generation Sparrow missiles which required full guidance from the firing aircraft. When an AMRAAM missile is launched, NATO pilots use the brevity code “Fox Three”. NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) is a distributed and networked short- to medium-range? ground-based air defense system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) and Raytheon. NASAMS was the first application of a surface-launched AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile).

US Approves $248 Million Sale Of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles ( AMRAAM) To Spain

Spain has approved the purchase of an extended-range arsenal of Raytheon AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) for its Eurofighter (C.16) and Boeing EF-18 Hornet(C.15) combat aircraft, along with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) ground-based air-defense system. This acquisition encompasses 68 AIM-120-C8 AMRAAM missiles, associated equipment, and support, with an estimated cost of EUR100 million (USD107 million). The decision was officially announced on October 30th by the Council of Ministers. This procurement is crucial in maintaining and enhancing the reserve stocks for the Spanish Air Force and the Spanish Army, optimizing their capabilities and mission fulfillment. The upgraded AIM-120C-8, now recognized as the AIM-120D, maintains the solid-propellant rocket motor of its predecessors while significantly boosting its no-escape envelope and off-boresight capabilities.