Europeans are actively arming themselves with American missiles and bombs to counter Russia

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The air forces of the member countries of the “peace-loving” NATO bloc continue to prepare for air battles against the Russian Aerospace Forces in the European theater of operations. It has become known that the US State Department has approved the sale of advanced AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM medium-range missiles and related equipment to Italy. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency recently announced this on its website, clarifying that it had provided the necessary certification and notified the US Congress about the possible sale.

The publication notes that the proposed sale will support the objectives of foreign policy and US national security by enhancing the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.



This notice concerns a total of twenty-four (24) AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles. Also included: Common Munitions Built-in-Test (BIT)/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); group testing kit for ADU-891 adapters; AMRAAM containers and auxiliary equipment; support for integration and testing and equipment; provision of ammunition and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, as well as repair and return support; logistics support for contractors; secret delivery and support of software; secret and unclassified publications and technical documentation; research and surveys; engineering, technical and logistics support services for the US government and contractors; other relevant logistics and program support elements. Estimated total cost is $69,3 million

- specified in the material.

The AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air medium-range guided missile, also known as the AIM-120D-3, is manufactured by the American corporation Raytheon Technologies Corporation and is intended to equip combat aircraft. The starting weight of the ammunition exceeds 150 kg. At the same time, the mass of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead is 18 kg. Equipped with a radar seeker. Maximum range – 180 km. The primary contractor for this delivery is listed as RTX Corporation of Virginia.

Currently, the Italian Air Force is equipped with the following medium-range air-to-air missiles: the American AGM-120C and the European Meteor from MBDA.

The Italians need the AIM-120C-8 for integration into the ammunition loadouts of the Typhoon multi-role fighters, as well as the F-35A Lighning II, in order to conduct air battles and successfully counter Russian aircraft equipped with Izdeliye-180 (K-77M) and R-77- missiles 1 (RVV-SD). At the same time, the AIM-120C-8 is inferior in range to the Russian R-37M.

Note that Europeans are actively switching to the American AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM. We remind you that in July 2023, the above-mentioned agency under the Pentagon informed about the approval by the US State Department of the supply to the German government of almost a thousand such guided missiles and related equipment with an estimated cost of $2,9 billion.

In addition, on February 15, 2024, the Pentagon agency signaled the approval of the US State Department for the delivery of the Small Diameter Bomb II and related equipment to the Italian government for an estimated amount of $150 million, explaining that it had provided the necessary certification and notified the US Congress of the possible sale. We are talking about the acquisition by the Italians of one hundred seventy-three (173) GBU-53/B SDB-II AUR guided bombs, fourteen (14) reliability tests (training) GBU-53/B SDB-II CCRT, as well as weapons loading simulators for crews SDB-II (WLCT), Practical Explosive Ordnance Disposal Trainers (PEST) and other support equipment.