The United States government has authorized the sale of new AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to equip the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s stealth F-35A fighter jets. This was disclosed in one of the most recent notifications submitted by the U.S. Department of State to Congress for approval of the deal, valued at US$370.9 million under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
Since the official retirement of its F-16s—some of which were sold to Romania and others committed for transfer to Ukraine—the Norwegian government and air force have focused their efforts on completing and integrating the new fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
Among the most significant developments in this process, it has been confirmed that Norway is the first partner nation in the F-35 Lightning II program to complete its fleet of fifth-generation fighter aircraft, comprising a total of 52 units.
With this goal in mind, and to ensure the fleet has broad access to armaments, Norway has made progress in recent years in negotiating and acquiring various types of weapons systems. Notable cases include prior authorizations by the U.S. government for the sale of long-range AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, AGM-88G AARGM-ER anti-radiation missiles, and StormBreaker glide bombs. Additionally, the country has taken delivery of the first of its new Joint Strike Missiles (JSM), the air-launched variant of the NSM anti-ship missile.
Recently, this broad arsenal of weaponry is set to expand further with the authorization issued on May 2 by the Department of State. As detailed in the publication by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Norwegian government has requested the purchase of up to 300 new AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles from the U.S., along with twenty-four (24) Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM), twenty (20) guidance units and sections, as well as associated documentation and support from RTX Corporation, the designated prime contractor for the operation.
Lastly, regarding the AIM-9X Block II, this is the most modern and advanced variant in the Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile family. According to the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, this version features a new datalink system, increased maneuverability thanks to thrust vectoring, and a new infrared seeker that provides “…combat crews with the opportunity to shoot first and score the first kill, which is essential for survival during within-visual-range aerial combat maneuvers.”
Technical Specifications:
- Primary role: Air-to-air missile
- Contractor: Raytheon
- Propulsion: ATK MK-139 solid-fuel rocket motor
- Length: 9.9 feet (3.02 meters)
- Launch weight: 186 pounds (84.37 kg)
- Diameter: 5 inches (0.13 meters)
- Wingspan: 17.6 inches (0.45 meters)
- Range: Classified
- Speed: Classified
- Guidance system: Solid-state infrared seeker
- Warhead: Annular blast fragmentation
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