Congress Asked to Approve $68 Million Sidewinder Missile Sale to Belgium

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Thursday of plans to sell the Belgian Air Force $68 million worth of AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, plus associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.
This sale would include:

• 40 AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II All-Up-Round Missiles.
• 10 AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical Guidance Units.
• 36 CATM-9X-2 Captive Air Training Missiles (structurally exact replicas of the missile used in training exercises, of identical shape, weight and center of gravity, but lacking any electronics other than a wire to indicate "missile present" on the pilot's control board).
• Two CATM-9X-2 Block II Missile Guidance Units (also for training).
• 4 Dummy Air Training Missiles ("DATMs," used to train ground crews in how to load, unload, and handle the missiles).
• Necessary containers, support and testing equipment, spare parts, and so on.

Raytheon would be the primary contractor on this defense contract.

DSCA noted that Belgium wants to buy the missiles "as part of an overall military modernization program to better support its own air defense needs and to improve its interoperability with the U.S. and other NATO allies."
DSCA assured Congress that sale of the missiles "will not alter the basic military balance in the region" and will have "no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness."

Source: U.S. Defense Security Cooperation / DailyFinance

Regards,
Daniel