The U.S. State Department has announced its approval for the potential sale of 70 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Italy. This decision comes in response to a formal request from the Italian government, which sought to acquire 30 AIM-120D-3 missiles and 40 AIM-120C-8 missiles, along with necessary equipment and services. The total estimated cost of the transaction stands at approximately $211 million.
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the proposed sale aims to enhance Italy’s capability to counter both current and evolving aerial threats, ensuring that Italian forces are equipped with modern and effective air-to-air munitions. It is expected to bolster interoperability between the United States and NATO allies, particularly with the Italian Armed Forces. The agency noted that Italy already possesses AMRAAMs in its arsenal, suggesting that the assimilation of the new equipment into Italy’s military framework will pose no significant challenges.
The principal contractor for this proposed deal is RTX Corporation, a key player in the defense manufacturing industry. Notably, there are no offset agreements associated with this sale, which typically involve local industry participation in exchange for procurement contracts.
The AIM-120D-3 represents the latest iteration of the AMRAAM series and incorporates essential updates, particularly in its guidance section, to rectify obsolescence concerns faced by its predecessors. This variant is designed as a replacement for the AIM-120D, featuring enhancements through the System Improvement Program-3F (SIP-3F) software, which improves its guidance, range, and overall performance.
Additionally, the AIM-120C-8 is classified as the export-only version of the missile, also upgraded with the F3 hardware refresh, albeit with different software specifications. Both missile variants are designed to effectively engage aerial targets at an approximate range of 160 kilometers (99 miles), reinforcing the operational capabilities of the air forces that utilize them.
