Canada Requests Raytheon-made Air-to-Air Missiles for its F/A-18 Aircraft

The US State Department has approved a $140 million sale of Raytheon-made AIM-120D Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) for use on Canadian F/A-18 aircraft.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on October 30, 2017.

The Government of Canada has requested a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement of up to thirty-two (32) AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), up to eighteen (18) AMRAAM Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); up to four (4) AMRAAM Non-Development Item – Airborne Instrumentation Unit (NDI-AIU); up to two (2) AMRAAM Instrumented Test Vehicles (ITV); up to seven (7) spare AMRAAM guidance units; up to four (4) spare AMRAAM control sections for use on their F/A-18 aircraft.

Included in the sale are containers; storage and preservation; transportation; aircrew and maintenance training; training aids and equipment, spares and repair parts; warranties; weapon system support and test equipment; publications and technical documentation; software development, integration, and support; system integration and testing; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $140 million.

The missiles will be used on Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter aircraft to enable RCAF fighters to optimally fulfill both North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) and NATO missions and also meets the U.S. Northern Command’s goals of combined air operations interoperability and standardization between Canadian and U.S. forces.