AIM-9 Sidewinder

Turkey is among several foreign countries which will receive AIM-9X Block II missiles as part of the US foreign military sales program.

The inclusion of Turkey comes amidst reports that the Pentagon has blocked supply of parts that go into the F-35 manufacturing supply chain in Turkey as punishment for Ankara continuing its purchase process of Russia’s S-400 air defence system.

Raytheon Missile Systems was yesterday awarded $12,111,859 contract modification for procurement of AIM-9X Lot 18 Block II All up Round tactical missiles and parts for the US Navy, Air Force and the governments of South Korea, Australia, Qatar, Norway, Indonesia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Poland, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Belgium, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Singapore, and Denmark, a US DoD announcement said.

The AIM-9X Block II missiles are the latest iteration of the venerable sidewinder missile used in a variety of US-built fighter jets including the F-15, F-16 and F/A-18.