Norway Strengthens Arctic Defense: US Approves Delivery of 300 AIM-9X Missiles.

The U.S. Department of State has approved the sale of 300 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to Norway for a total of $370.9 million. This was reported by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). These missiles will be used on Norwegian F-35A Lightning II fighters. The deal also includes training missiles, guidance modules, containers, software, and technical support from American specialists. The AIM-9X Block II is the latest version of the Sidewinder missile, which has a range of about 32 km and a speed of over 2.5 Mach. The unique infrared guidance system allows targets to be acquired at angles of up to 90 degrees. According to technical tests, it has been shown that AIM-9X missiles can be launched from NASAMS ground air defense systems, co-developed by Norwegian company Kongsberg and American Raytheon. Currently, Norway has 40 F-35A fighters and plans to increase their number to 52. These aircraft, produced by Lockheed Martin, are specifically adapted for operation in Arctic conditions. The AIM-9X Block II missiles have advantages over their competitors in target acquisition and protection against infrared countermeasures. The agreement between the U.S. and Norway underscores the strength of the defense partnership between these two countries, which has lasted for decades.