The United States government has authorized the sale of a significant batch of advanced AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles for the Finnish Air Force’s fighter jets. The announcement was made by the State Department in its notification to the U.S. Congress to approve the weapons package, valued at US$1.07 billion, through the Foreign Military Sales Program.
Amid current tensions in Northern and Eastern Europe, with the Russia-Ukraine war ongoing for more than three years since the 2022 invasion, Finland has embarked on major plans to modernize its military capabilities.
Within the Finnish Air Force, the most notable effort is the ongoing transition through the acquisition of a total of 64 new fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighters, which are being produced in the United States, while preparations are also underway for the future local production of components. The aircraft are intended to replace the current fleet of F/A-18 Hornet multirole fighters.
Particularly noteworthy in this regard are the new facilities of local company Patria. Located in the city of Nokia and inaugurated earlier this year, the center will carry out assembly and maintenance of the Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines that power the F-35, providing these capabilities not only to the Finnish Air Force but also to allied nations.
Other relevant aspects, aimed at fully equipping the platform, include authorizations from the State Department to supply the force with new AGM-88G anti-radiation missiles and JASSM-ER cruise missiles.
According to information released by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on September 10, the Finnish government requested from the United States the purchase of up to four hundred and five (405) new AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). The deal, valued at more than US$1 billion, names RTX Corporation as the main contractor and also includes the provision of guidance sections, manufacturer support, and maintenance, among other items.
The State Department stated: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
It added: “The proposed sale will improve Finland’s capability to meet current and future threats, while enhancing its interoperability with U.S. and other allied forces. Finland already has AMRAAM missiles in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.”
Lastly, as highlighted on previous occasions, the AIM-120D-3 is one of the most advanced variants of the AMRAAM air-to-air missile family, benefiting from upgrades developed under the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) program led by the U.S. Air Force (USAF), intended to serve as the primary BVR weapon for fourth- and fifth-generation fighters.
Among the improvements introduced through the F3R are software upgrades and updates to the circuit boards in the missile’s guidance section, as well as increased resilience to counter electronic warfare systems in contested operational environments.
Photographs used for illustrative purposes only.
