U.S. State Department Gives Preliminary Approval for Sale of AIM-9X Air-to-Air Missiles to South Korea... A Green Light for the KF-21

[Financial News]   The United States Department of State (State Department) on the 21st (local time) gave preliminary approval for the sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles and related equipment.
The photo shows an F-35A fighter jet belonging to the South Korean Air Force firing an AIM-9X air-to-air missile at a training target that simulates a cruise missile and an unmanned attack aircraft. Newsis The State Department said on its website that South Korea had requested the purchase of 103 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles and 10 tactical guidance units, in a deal worth $125 million, or about 170 billion won.The photo shows an F-35A fighter jet belonging to the South Korean Air Force firing an AIM-9X air-to-air missile at a training target that simulates a cruise missile and an unmanned attack aircraft. Newsis The State Department said on its website that South Korea had requested the purchase of 103 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles and 10 tactical guidance units, in a deal worth $125 million, or about 170 billion won.
The AIM-9X Block II is a short-range air-to-air missile expected to strengthen the KF-21's close-range air combat capability. In particular, the AIM-9X Block II works with the pilot's helmet-mounted display (HMD), allowing the pilot to lock onto a target simply by looking directly at an enemy aircraft.
It also has strong lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) capability.
Operating the same advanced air-to-air missile used by the U.
S.
military would also greatly improve interoperability in combined operations between South Korea and the United States, including ammunition compatibility and data-link sharing.
The AIM-9X Block II will also be fitted to the F-35A, F-15K Slam Eagle, and KF-16 currently operated by the South Korean Air Force.
The photo shows an F-35A fighter jet belonging to the South Korean Air Force firing an AIM-9X air-to-air missile at a training target that simulates a cruise missile and an unmanned attack aircraft. Newsis The State Department said on its website that South Korea had requested the purchase of 103 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles and 10 tactical guidance units, in a deal worth $125 million, or about 170 billion won.
[email protected] Song Kyung-jae Reporter