The US State Department has cleared a potential Foreign Military Sale to Germany for up to 400 AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), along with supporting systems and services. The estimated $1.23 billion package includes missile guidance sections, telemetry kits, an integrated test vehicle, training, software support, encryption equipment, and technical publications. RTX will serve as the prime contractor. The sale is designed to equip Germany’s future F-35A fleet and bolster NATO’s broader air defense interoperability.
Unlike a simple munitions purchase, the agreement reflects Berlin’s intention to establish a comprehensive, sustainment-ready missile enterprise. This approach provides not only frontline weapons but also testing, training, and software infrastructure needed to maintain long-term operational capability.
The AIM-120D-3 is the latest generation of the AMRAAM family, which has been a backbone of Western air combat since the 1990s. While earlier upgrades focused on propulsion and seeker refinements, the D-3 emphasizes electronics, digital architecture, and software-defined flexibility. Featuring new circuit cards and updated System Improvement Program software, the missile can accommodate agile updates throughout its service life. Classified range details remain undisclosed, but the D-series is recognized for its extended no-escape envelope and GPS-assisted precision.
The D-3 integrates an active radar seeker, inertial navigation system, and secure two-way datalink, enabling midcourse updates before transitioning to terminal “pitbull” mode. This makes it especially effective when paired with the F-35, which can combine radar, infrared, and electronic support measures to generate precise target tracks. Germany’s package highlights GPS-hardened guidance systems for resilience against jamming, while telemetry kits and test vehicles will support trial campaigns and tactics refinement for the Luftwaffe.
