The US State Department has cleared Canada’s plan to purchase hundreds of AIM-9X Sidewinder tactical missiles from RTX.
With an estimated value of $265 million, the potential foreign military sale includes 120 Sidewinders in the Block II configuration and 48 in the more advanced Block II+.
Ottawa is also requesting 96 training missiles, 20 guidance kits, active optical target detectors, and engineering and logistical support.
According to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the sale will help bolster Canada’s ability to deter aggression in the region, contributing to its overall homeland defense.
It is also expected to improve the country’s interoperability with the US.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US by helping to improve the military capability of a NATO ally that is an important force for ensuring political stability and economic progress and is a contributor to military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations around the world,” the notice wrote.
Sidewinder Block II and II+
The AIM-9X Sidewinder is a short-range air-to-air missile that features improved capabilities over its predecessor, the legacy AIM-9M.
It boasts a high off-boresight focal-plane array seeker and an enhanced infrared counter-countermeasures feature.
In 2015, the US military introduced a Block II variant of the Sidewinder, offering a leap in capability in terms of maneuverability and targeting.
According to the Naval Air System Command, the Block II variant is equipped with an advanced infrared seeker that allows the weapon to hit targets behind the launching aircraft.
RTX continues to mature the missile further, leading to the arrival of the Block II+, which reportedly provides increased survivability for the F-35 fighter jet.
Though details are limited, the Pentagon said the newest variant incorporates “specialized external materials” for improved performance.
