The US State Department has approved Hungary’s request to buy sixty (60) AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAMÂER missiles, two spare AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM-ER guidance sections and related equipment from Raytheon for $230 million, the U.S Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced. The sale is in support of Hungary’s acquisition of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) air defense system and would provide a full range of protection from imminent hostile cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, rotary wing and fixed wing threats. DSCA, which oversees the FMS sales, delivered the required certification notifying the U.S. Congress of this possible sale on May 8.
The Government of Hungary has requested to buy sixty (60) AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAMÂER missiles, and two (2) spare AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM-ER guidance sections. The new package includes four AMRAAM-ER training missiles (CATM-120C); missile containers; spare parts; cryptographic communication security devices; precision navigation equipment; software, site surveys; weapons system equipment; computer software support; publications and technical documentation; common munitions; personnel training equipment; integration support equipment; and US Government and contractor, engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.
NASAMS is a distributed and networked medium to long-range air defense system developed by Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and USA’s Raytheon. It is the first surface-based application for the AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and these new missiles are dubbed SLAMRAAM (Surfaced Launched AMRAAM). The system integrates US-built MPQ-64 Sentinel air defense radar and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with an indigenously developed Battle management C4I system called FDC, short for Fire Distribution Center. The FDC connected to a MPQ-64 radar forms an “Acquisition Radar and Control System” (ARCS). The missile has a horizontal range of up to 25 km.
On 22 February 2015, Raytheon announced the development of the Extended Range upgrade to the NASAMS AMRAAM missile offering (AMRAAM-ER). Development work began in 2014, and the missile is actually an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile using AMRAAM guidance. The first flight test took place in August 2016. Production was expected by 2019. Engagement envelope is expanded with a 50 percent increase in maximum range and 70 percent increase in maximum altitude; range will extend to about 40 km. The system integrates US-built MPQ-64 Sentinel air defense radar and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with an indigenously developed Battle management C4I system called FDC, short for Fire Distribution Center.
