Kuwait considers equipping its F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters with the latest generation air/air passive (IR) missile – the AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Block II missile. Kuwait plans requested U.S. approval to but 80 such missiles, at the cost of US$105 million. The AIM-9X-2 has recently been requested by a number of foreign customers, including the UAE, Poland, Malaysia and Morocco. Raytheon has already launched production of the AIM-9X Block II with formal Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOTE) scheduled for April 2012, following the completion of the ongoing Operational Test Readiness Review (OTRR)
Block II.
According to the U.S. defense security cooperation agency (DSCA) the sale will enhance Kuwait’s interoperability with the U.S. and among other Central Command nations, making it a more valuable partner in an increasingly important area of the world.
