The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles and related equipment to the Republic of Korea Air Force, with an estimated value of $125 million…
South Korea has requested the purchase of 103 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles and 10 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Tactical Guidance Units.
RTX is the prime contractor, and there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the sale.
The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile designed to detect, identify, intercept and destroy airborne targets in day and night conditions.
The AIM-9X combines thrust-vectoring control with aerodynamic control surfaces to provide high maneuverability during close-range engagements.
The AIM-9X retains the warhead and rocket motor lineage of the AIM-9M while incorporating improvements in guidance electronics and flight-control performance.
The AIM-9X Block II further enhances the baseline missile’s capabilities through a range of hardware and software upgrades, including a redesigned fuze, a digital ignition safety device designed to improve safety during handling and flight, and updated processors for improved counter-countermeasure performance.
The AIM-9X Block II also features a datalink that provides lock-on-after-launch capability, allowing the missile to receive target updates after launch…