THAILAND WILL receive up to 50 Hughes AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs) for its pending purchase of McDonnell Douglas F-18C/Ds.
The US State Department has been swayed by Department of Defense arguments to release the AMRAAMs after blocking the move. Although there is no mention of the AIM-120 in the letter of acceptance (LoA) covering the F-18, a second, separate, LoA covering the AMRAAM is being written.
The Thais' insistence on receiving the AMRAAM was fuelled by the Royal Malaysian Air Force's order for the Russian R-77 (AA-12 Adder) active-radar-guided air-to-air missile for use with its Mikoyan MiG-29s.
Source: Flight International