On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) published the U.S. Department of State’s approval of a potential sale to the Federal Republic of Germany of the latest upgraded 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 1.23 billion USD.
Photo: RTX
According to the published information, the government in Berlin requested the acquisition of 400 AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM combat missiles along with 12 additional guidance sections, incorporating precise positioning provided by the SAASM (Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module) or M-Code cryptographic module, as well as a single AIM-120 AMRAAM ITV (Integrated Test Vehicle) for flight testing.
In addition, the package also includes the following non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment) items: telemetry kits for AMRAAM missiles, additional guidance sections, transport containers and support equipment, adapters for ADU-891 computer test sets, KGV-135A (COMSEC) encrypted communication modules, spare parts, consumables and accessories, repair and return support, weapons system and software support, delivery and support of classified and unclassified software; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, engineering, technical and logistical support services from the U.S. government and the contractor (RTX Corporation), as well as other related logistics 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 upgraded the circuit cards in the missile’s guidance section and enabled continuous software improvements. The latest AMRAAM is capable of countering peer-level threats, and its unofficial range is estimated at 120–180 km. The flight test program was completed on July 10, 2023.
The missiles will arm 35 F-35A Lightning II aircraft in the Block 4 TR3 version, which will also receive AIM-9X Block II+ Sidewinder short-range missiles, AGM-158B JASSM-ER long-range cruise missiles, JSM anti-ship missiles, GBU-53/B SDB II StormBreaker precision-guided bombs, GBU-31 JDAM, and GBU-54 JDAM, and most importantly, the main reason why the Berlin government chose this platform, B61-12 thermonuclear guided bombs under NATO’s Nuclear Sharing program.
So far, approval to purchase AIM-120D-3 AMRAAMs has only been granted to Denmark (203 units), the Netherlands (226 units), Japan (1,200 units, but together with AIM-120C-8), Australia (200 units), Poland (400 units, but the purchase is currently suspended), and Finland (403 units). The United Kingdom and Canada have also expressed interest in these missiles.
Earlier, on July 19, 2023, Germany received approval to purchase 969 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles with related equipment, in a package worth up to 2.9 billion USD. The first batches were contracted in May and September 2024. These are being integrated into the Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.
