The State Department of United States (US) has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Italy of AIM-9X Sidewinder Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $90.6 million.
The Government of Italy has requested to buy:
- twenty-eight (28) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ Tactical Missiles
- four (4) AIM-9X Block II+ Tactical Guidance Units; eight (8) AIM-9X Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM)
- two (2) AIM-9X CATM Guidance Units
These will be added to previously implemented cases whose values were under the congressional notification threshold.
The original Foreign Military Sales cases, valued at $34.1 million ($24.1 million in MDE) and $17.6 million ($9.7 million in MDE), respectively, included a total of:
- thirty-eight (38) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ Tactical Missiles
- three (3) AIM-9X Block II+ Tactical Guidance Units
- sixteen (16) AIM-9X CATM
- two (2) AIM-9X CATM Guidance Units
This notification is for a combined total of sixty-six (66) AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ Tactical Missiles; seven (7) AIM-9X Block II+ Tactical Guidance Units; twenty-four (24) AIM-9X CATM; and four (4) AIM-9X CATM Guidance Units.
Also included are active optical target detectors; containers; personnel training and training equipment; classified and unclassified publications and technical documents; warranties; U.S. Government engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The estimated total cost is $90.6 million.
Noteworthy, this proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the US by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
The proposed sale will improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing training missiles and guidance units for Italy’s F-35 fleet in support of NATO’s defense mission.
Also, Italy will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, VA.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Italy.
However, periodic travel on a temporary basis will be required on an interim basis for training and technical assistance.
Source: https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/italy-aim-9x-sidewinder-missiles
