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The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has awarded Raytheon Missiles a US$27 million contract to provide advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) via foreign military sales to a group of international partners, including Australia.
The US$27 million contract awarded to Raytheon Missiles and Defense, of Tucson, Arizona, is part of a firm-fixed-price modification – this modification provides for a life of type procurement of known obsolete component in support of production and sustainment through the program of record and foreign military sales procurements.
This contract involves foreign military sales (FMS) to Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Poland, Qatar, Romania and Spain. US Air Force fiscal 2020 missile procurement funds in the amount of $8,810,304; US Navy fiscal 2020 weapons procurement funds in the amount of $5,277,696; and FMS funds in the amount of $12,966,192 are being obligated at the time of award.
The AMRAAM is a sophisticated air dominance weapon, developed over more than 25 years of design, upgrades, testing and production.
AMRAAM's capabilities have been fully demonstrated in more than 4,200 test shots and 10 air-to-air combat victories. The AMRAAM missile is a versatile and proven weapon with operational flexibility in a wide variety of scenarios, including air-to-air and surface-launch engagements.
In the air-to-air role, the weapon's advanced active guidance section provides aircrew with a high degree of combat flexibility and lethality. Its mature seeker design allows it to quickly find targets in the most combat challenging environments.
As an FMS customer of the AMRAAM, Australia will benefit from the contract modification. The Royal Australian Air Force currently integrates the AIM-120 AMRAAM into its Classic Hornet, Super Hornet and future F-35A fleets, which will leverage the open system's networked capability and proven design of the AMRAAM system.
The AMRAAM system in particular will serve as the primary air-to-air missile system for the RAAF's fleet of F-35s. Raytheon is providing a range of state-of-the-art weapons systems to Australia's F-35 fleet, which will see the aircraft dominate the air, ground and sea domain.
"The current weapon systems provided by Raytheon for the F-35A platform include the AMRAAM, which is currently the only radar guided air-to-air missile that is cleared to fly on the F-35A," a Raytheon spokesperson told Defence Connect in 2018.
Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of $27 billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specialising in defence, civil government and cyber security solutions.
With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
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