On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) published the U.S. Department of State’s approval for the potential sale to the Republic of Finland of a batch of the latest modernized radar-guided AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) medium-range air-to-air missiles, in a package worth up to 1.07 billion USD.
Photo: RTX
According to the published information, the government in Helsinki requested the possible acquisition of 403 AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM combat missiles, along with eight additional guidance sections for them, incorporating precise positioning provided by either the SAASM (Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module) cryptographic module or the M-Code.
In addition, the package also includes the following non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment) items: additional AMRAAM guidance sections, missile transport containers and auxiliary equipment, Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE), ADU-891 computer test set adapters, auxiliary equipment and munitions support, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, repair and return services, weapons software and support equipment, classified publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, transportation support, field surveys, engineering, technical, and logistics support services provided by the U.S. government and the contractor (RTX Corporation), as well as other related logistical and program support elements.
The AIM-120D-3 is the most advanced variant of the AMRAAM family of missiles, developed under the F3R (Form, Fit, Function Refresh) program, which modernized circuit cards in the missile’s guidance section and enabled continuous software enhancements. The latest AMRAAM can counter peer-level threats, and its unofficial range is estimated at 120–180 km. The flight test program was completed on July 10, 2023.
So far, only the following countries have received approval to purchase them: Denmark (203 units), the Netherlands (226), Japan (1,200, including AIM-120C-8), Australia (200), and Poland (400). The United Kingdom and Canada have also expressed interest.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense concluded two contracts with RTX related to AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles: one on September 9, worth 760 million USD, for sustainment support, and another on July 31, worth 2.8 billion USD, for the production and delivery of two additional batches.
For Finland, the new missiles will be integrated into the future fleet of 64 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Block 4 TR3 multirole fighters, the first of which entered final assembly in June this year.
They will complement previously ordered weapons: 150 AGM-88G AARGM-ER extended-range anti-radiation missiles and 200 AGM-158B-2 JASSM-ER cruise missiles, while the government in Helsinki has also received approval for up to 500 GBU-53/B SDB II glide bombs, 190 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, 148 AGM-154C-1 JSOW-C1 glide bombs, 120 BLU-117 general-purpose bombs, 32 BLU-109 general-purpose bombs, and 150 BLU-111 general-purpose bombs. Integration with JSM cruise missiles is also planned.
The F-35As will replace 60 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets (out of the original 62; the first was retired on April 26, 2024, and one crashed on May 7 this year) under the HX program. As part of the program’s offset agreement, Finland will manufacture F-35 components, including 400 forward fuselage sections, main and nose landing gear doors, and components for Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engines.
Finland is also interested in a joint purchase with Sweden and Denmark of Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, as well as joining the NATO MMF (Multinational Multirole Tanker Transport Fleet) with Airbus A330-200 MRTT (Multirole Tanker Transport) aircraft. In the future, Finnish Lightnings are expected to become part of a joint Nordic air force.
