The US ordered AIM-120 missiles for Ukraine

The U.S. Department of Defense has signed another contract with RTX (Raytheon) for the supply of AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.

Part of these ordered missiles will be delivered to Ukraine.

The announced value of this order is almost $1.2 billion.

This contract, in addition to supplying missiles to the United States Armed Forces, also provides for deliveries to foreign customers.

This contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

The delivery of AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles under this contract is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2028.

As for Ukraine, F-16 fighter jets can be armed with these missiles.

In addition, the AIM-120 in various versions is used as the main missile for the NASAMS air defense system, which is also in service in Ukraine and is actively used to shoot down Russian air targets.

In late July, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. agreed to arm dozens of F-16 fighter jets being sent to Ukraine with American-made missiles. The United States will supply the fighter jets with advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, known as AMRAAM, and short-range air-to-air missiles, known as AIM-9X.

AIM-120 missile

AIM-120 AMRAAM is an American all-weather guided missile developed by the American defense company Raytheon Technologies. The missile was adopted into service with the U.S. Army in 1991.

It is the main medium-range missile for American and European fighter jets.

The missile is equipped with an active radar homing system capable of capturing an air target at a distance of at least 20 km.