WASHINGTON, — June 11, 2026 : The United States Department of State has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Republic of Korea for 70 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and related equipment, with an estimated value of $292 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of the proposed sale for review.
According to the State Department notification, South Korea has requested 70 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs and two AIM-120C-8 guidance sections. The package also includes missile containers, control sections, support equipment, spare and repair parts, consumables, software, technical publications, and engineering, logistics, and technical support services provided by the US government and contractors.
The AIM-120C-8 is one of the latest variants of the AMRAAM family and is designed for beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat. The missile features active radar guidance, all-weather operational capability, fire-and-forget functionality, resistance to electronic countermeasures, and the ability to engage high- and low-flying maneuvering targets. It is powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor and incorporates improvements in range and guidance compared with earlier variants.
The missile is compatible with several aircraft operated by the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), including the F-35A Lightning II, F-15K Slam Eagle, and KF-16 Fighting Falcon. South Korea has operated AMRAAM missiles since the 1990s and has acquired approximately 1,000 missiles from various versions of the system through previous contracts.
US officials stated that the sale supports American foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the defense capabilities of a key ally in the Indo-Pacific region. The additional missiles are intended to help South Korea maintain sufficient stocks of medium-range air-to-air weapons to address current and future security requirements.
The State Department said South Korea will be able to integrate the missiles into its existing military inventory without difficulty. Officials also noted that the proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region and will have no adverse impact on US defense readiness.
The principal contractor for the sale will be RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon), based in Arlington, Virginia. The final value of the procurement will be determined during negotiations for a formal Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) between the two governments.
Under US arms export regulations, Congress has a 15-day review period to examine the proposed transaction. If no objections are raised, the sale can proceed to final approval and contract negotiations.
The proposed acquisition continues ongoing defense cooperation between Washington and Seoul and is intended to support interoperability between US and South Korean forces while sustaining the operational capabilities of the Republic of Korea Air Force.
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