The Finnish government has approved the acquisition of AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the US.
The Raytheon-produced missiles are intended for Finland’s 64 F-35A multirole combat aircraft, which the country procured in 2021 for approximately $10 billion.
The US has already approved the sale of up to 405 AIM-120D-3s for Helsinki at an estimated cost of $1.07 billion.
“This procurement will give Finland the latest and most advanced variant of AMRAAM, which will improve our ability to respond to threats in our operating environment,” Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.
“It will further strengthen our interoperability with the United States and our other allies.”
Procurement
The procurement covers the missiles, manuals and technical documentation, spare parts and consumables, transportation, and training, repair, and support services.
The acquisition further deepens Finland’s military integration with NATO and the US following its accession to the alliance in 2023.
Finland already operates an unspecified AMRAAM variant on its F/A-18 Hornet fleet and within the Finnish Army’s NASAMS air-defense batteries, while the AIM-120D-3 is intended specifically for the country’s F-35 fleet.
The AIM-120D-3
The latest AMRAAM variant, the AIM-120D-3, incorporates a Form, Fit, and Function hardware refresh that modernizes the guidance section to address obsolescence.
Upgraded, energy-efficient cards in the Raytheon missile’s guidance system improve battery life, extending range.
Replacing the AIM-120D, the AIM-120D-3 also incorporates System Improvement Program-3F software to enhance guidance, range, and overall performance, with an estimated range of about 160 kilometers (99 miles).
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