Spain to replace AIM-9 Sidewinder with IRIS-T missiles

The Spanish Government has authorized the signature Memorandum of Understanding on the IRIS-T missile program for the Air Force. This program, which also comprises Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Greece, intends to equip to the Air Force with a short-range, new-generation air-to-air missile to replace, in the medium term, the AIM-9 Sidewinder series of missiles. The signature of the Memorandum of Adhesion by Spain as a member of the international IRIS-T program, with full rights, supposes the acquisition of seven hundred operational missiles, seventy training missiles, ten test equipments and 385 containers. Additionally, the program also includes Spain’s entrance fee to the IRIS-T program (access to the technology of the missile), the Spanish contribution to the establishment of production lines (pre-production costs) and funding earmarked for the integration of the missile on to the EF-18 Hornet combat aircraft. The total budget amounts to 247,320,000 Euros, spread out over ten years.