Norway signs for AMRAAM-D missiles to equip F-35 fleet
The AMRAAM-D will equip Norway's F-35 fleet in the air defence role, with delivery of missiles running through to 2028. (Photo: Norwegian Armed Forces)
Norway has signed a $500 million dollar agreement for procurement of Raytheon AMRAAM-D missiles to equip its F-35 fighter jet fleet.
The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) signed an agreement on 16 November with the US government worth approximately NOK5 billion ($500.3 million) regarding acquisition of AMRAAM-D air-to-air missiles to equip the F-35s of the Norwegian Air Force.
The AMRAAM-D will serve as the main weapon used to defend Norwegian airspace for the next decades and the agreement represents the single largest procurement of munitions for the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Previous versions of AMRAAM have been used on Norwegian Air Force F-16s and as part of the NASAMS ground-based air defence system developed by Norway's Kongsberg.
'Through this agreement Norwegian F-35s will... gain access to a weapon that... has major improvements in terms of sensors and range, and which will be effective against everything from drones and cruise missiles to other combat aircraft, said Gro Jære, Director General of the NDMA.
Delivery of the missiles will continue through to 2028 and cost of the procurement will be funded from the overall Norwegian F-35 programme.
Norway has also signed a new industrial cooperation agreement with AMRAAM manufacturer Raytheon, which partnered with Kongsberg on NASAMS.
Earlier this month, another European NATO member, Belgium, initiated the procurement of AMRAAM missiles for its future F-35 fleet via the US FMS route.
Shephard Defence Insight estimates the unit cost of an AMRAAM at around $1,000,000.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Australian firm selected for US hypersonic test vehicle requirement]()
Australian firm selected for US hypersonic test vehicle requirement
Hypersonix Launch Systems will provide flight vehicles for testing under a US Defense Innovation Unit hypersonic programme.
-
![Slovakia to get US attack helicopters after donating jets to Ukraine]()
Slovakia to get US attack helicopters after donating jets to Ukraine
The US is offering a dozen AH-1Z Viper helicopters to Slovakia at two-thirds discount with the latter sending its fighters to Ukraine, which would likely extend H-1 production beyond 2023.
-
![Iraq emerges as customer for Turkish Aselpod airborne targeting system]()
Iraq emerges as customer for Turkish Aselpod airborne targeting system
An Iraqi Air Force Aero L-159 light attack jet has been photographed fitted with an Aselsan Aselpod targeting system, suggesting that Iraq is the export customer announced in by the company in autumn 2022.
-
![Poland to arm AW149 helicopters with Hellfire missiles]()
Poland to arm AW149 helicopters with Hellfire missiles
The 800 Hellfire missiles requested by Poland via a US Foreign Military Sale will equip the country's AW149 helicopter fleet, with a follow-on request likely to arm Apache helicopters and potentially other platforms.
