Raytheon to deliver AIM-9X missiles to Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the U.S. government executed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to purchase AIM-9X missile of Raytheon Company. Capt. Jeffrey Penfield, the U.S. Navy's air-to-air missile program manager said, "The AIM-9X will provide our Saudi Arabian allies with unparalleled capability, a small logistical footprint and ease of integration onto its existing fighter aircraft. AIM-9X has demonstrated its reliability during ongoing operational deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and in extensive user-driven test programs with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force". Under the agreement, the U.S. government will provide the RSAF an undisclosed quantity of tactical and training AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles for its F-15 fighter aircraft. "The Royal Saudi Air Force truly chose the most affordable and capable within-visual-range air-to-air missile in the world," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "Raytheon has delivered more than 3,000 Block I missiles on cost and ahead of schedule, and we look forward to continuing to do the same for the newest member of the AIM-9X family". The Royal Saudi Air Force joins the air forces of Australia, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States as AIM-9X users.