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UAE to get 224 latest AMRAAMS for F-16s

February 23, 2009 (by Asif Shamim) - The Unite Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) will acquire the latest derivative of the medium range AMRAAM missle for its fleet of US built F-16s.

UAEAF F-16F #3002 takes off from NAS JRB Fort Worth on March 4th, 2005 armed with AMRAAM missles

The announcement from Raytheon came at the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) Conference in Abu Dhabi that the UAE was purchasing 224 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).

"AMRAAM is one of the most advanced missiles and already deployed in other regional countries, like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan. The missiles are for the F-16 block 60 fighter jets of the UAE Air Force," said Lt General (retired) Paul T Mikolashek, President of Middle East Raytheon.

When asked about the value of the deal, he said: "I cannot reveal the value, but can tell the number of missiles is 224 and these are for the F-16 jets".

Raytheon said the company was expected to make its first delivery within two to three years. “It really depends on how the governments want that to happen,” said Cesar Rodriguez, the programme manager at the company’s missile systems division.


Additional images:

AIM-120 launch sequence by a USAF F-16A. [USAF photo]