In a deal valued at 280 million euro, the United States has approved the sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to Belgium. The Belgian Defence Ministry confirmed the deal on Monday. Previously the Pentagon had indicated that the deal could potentially be worth as much as 480 million euro. However, now officials say that the actual value of the sale will be much lower.
Belgium is purchasing several hundred air-to-air missiles and associated guidance units for the Belgian Airforce’s F-35 fighter jet fleet. The F-35 is being introduced to replace the Belgian Airforce’s ageing fleet of F-16 fighter jets.
In a statement the Pentagon said that the sale “will improve Belgium’s capacity to address current and future threats, and bolster NATO’s defence mission”.
The Belgian Defence Ministry says that 480 million euro that had been previous quoted was the maximum value of an eventual arms sale to Belgium authorised by Washington. The US authorities routinely inflate the value of requests to provide Congress with flexibility. Once approved, the final value of a contract is negotiated.
The purchase is part the Ammunition Readiness Plan 2025. The muti-year plan is designed to address deficiencies in Belgium’s arms stockpiles. The arms purchase programme that aims to reduce structural shortages across the Belgian Army, Navy and Airforce was approved by the Federal Government in July. At delivery date for thye Sidewinder missiles has yet to be confirmed.
The Pentagon says that the sale supports the US’ foreign policy and national security objectives. “The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a driver of political stability and economic progress in Europe.”