Romania buys advanced missiles from America. “They will ensure the safety of the sky”

The United States of America has approved the sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles to Romania to provide advanced air-to-air capabilities for the Romanian Air Force’s F-16 aircraft, the United States Embassy in Romania announced.

The missiles are valued at approximately 70 million US dollars. This sale is part of a larger, long-term modernization effort that the United States is supporting for the benefit of the Romanian Air Force.

Block II contains the most advanced AIM-9X Sidewinder missile technology to date and is currently in service with the US military.

US Chargé d’Affaires Michael Dickerson praised the acquisition as another excellent example of the strong security and defense ties between Romania and the United States, saying: “This acquisition is not just a transaction; it is a testament to our shared commitment to security and peace. These advanced missiles will ensure the safety of the Romanian sky”.

The Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9X Sidewinder is the latest in the Sidewinder missile family. This includes a wide-angle focal-plane seeker mounted on a highly maneuverable airframe with a significantly improved infrared countermeasures feature.

FILLING

The Minister of National Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, welcomed the announcement by which the United States of America approves the sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles to Romania. The acquisition will provide the multi-role F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Romanian Air Force with the most advanced version of the AIM-9X Sidewinder – Block II missile that is currently operated by the US Army.

“The Romanian Air Force’s access to state-of-the-art air-to-air capabilities significantly contributes to increasing the security of national and allied airspace and ensures a high degree of interoperability with similar structures of the US Army”, said Angel Tîlvăr.

The endowment program also includes the logistics support package, namely spare guidance heads, training missiles, personal training, technical assistance, technical documentation and transport services, so as to ensure a complete capability for the Romanian Air Force.

“The United States remains fundamentally committed to strengthening its defense posture and deterring any aggression in the Black Sea area. The Romanian Army will continue to act to strengthen the defense and security dimension of the joint strategic partnership”, Angel Tîlvăr also showed.