The U.S. Department of State has approved Norway’s planned purchase of missiles and related equipment from global defense contractor RTX for a potential $1.94 billion.
The proposed sale calls for the delivery of 300 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, 20 guidance sections for the weaponry, and related equipment and services. Other purchase items include spare parts, weapons software, classified publications and technical documentation, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which notified Congress of the planned deal on Tuesday.
Norway is purchasing the new missiles, the latest version of the AIM-120C, to replace its AIM-120B AMRAAMs. Oslo will assign the new weapons to its ground-based National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, with an option for deployment in the country’s F-35A fighter planes.
With support from the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, RTX business unit Raytheon and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace completed flight tests of an updated AMRAAM-Extended Range missile variant at NASAMS in February.