The U.S. will provide Ukraine with missiles for the F-16 and NASAMS
The U.S. has awarded Raytheon (RTX) a contract worth more than $1.1 billion to produce nearly 2,000 AIM-9X air-to-air missiles. Part of this batch is intended for export to Ukraine, where the missiles are used by F-16 fighter jets and NASAMS air defense systems.
Under the terms of the agreement, Raytheon will manufacture 1,653 AIM-9X-4 Block II missiles and 336 AIM-9X-5 Block II+ missiles, as well as components and spare parts.
The total value of the contract exceeds $1.1 billion, and it is scheduled to be completed by September 2029.
Most of the production will take place in the United States, while certain components will be manufactured in Germany and Canada.
Ukraine is among the countries designated to receive these missiles.
The AIM-9X is already being used by the Ukrainian military on F-16 fighter jets and as part of NASAMS air defense missile systems to destroy aerial targets, including cruise missiles and attack drones.
According to analysts’ estimates, the base cost of a single missile under this contract is approximately $557,000.
However, the price may vary significantly depending on the terms of a specific agreement:
- for Denmark, the cost of a single missile was estimated at up to $936,000, including related equipment and services;
- for Lithuania, the approximate “base” price was about $474,000.
Experts emphasize that the difference in cost is not due to the price of the missile itself, but rather to the scope of the contracts, which may include logistics, maintenance, training, and other equipment.
Experts note that the AIM-9X demonstrates high effectiveness when intercepting aerial targets. At the same time, using these expensive missiles against cheap kamikaze drones is economically unfeasible, although in certain combat situations it remains necessary to protect critical infrastructure and the civilian population.
Norway recently transferred a significant number of missiles for NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine. The Norwegian government emphasizes that air defense remains the top priority for military aid to Ukraine. The delivery took place at a critical moment, as Russian attacks continue almost daily.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine has an operational infrastructure of NASAMS air defense missile systems, which partially protect the country’s priority targets.
