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The United States has approved a $1.04 billion sale of 400 advanced AIM-120 air-to-air missiles to Australia amid growing regional tensions.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, over the last decade Australia has significantly ramped up its military capabilities in response to growing security concerns in the Indo-Pacific, particularly due to China’s expanding regional influence. Australia has increased defense spending, deepened alliances like AUKUS, and prioritized long-range strike capabilities and missile defense systems. A key motivator is China’s rapid military modernization and its willingness to project power far beyond its borders, including near Australian waters. Earlier this year, China conducted live-fire naval drills near Australian waters, which caused serious disruptions to commercial air traffic.
What’s going on now: In a notable development, the United States has approved a $1.04 billion sale of up to 400 AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles to Australia through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The proposed package includes an equal split of AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 missiles—two of the most advanced variants in the AMRAAM family—along with other equipment, including spare parts and support gear.
These missiles are designed for use on key Australian platforms, including the F-35A Lightning II and the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The AIM-120D-3 variant, in particular, offers improved range, better navigation, and stronger resistance to electronic countermeasures, giving Australia a critical edge in high-threat environments.
This sale follows a broader pattern of military acquisitions by Australia as it modernizes its defense force. Recently, Australia signed agreements to acquire HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems) and naval strike missiles, as well as launching a joint missile production initiative with Lockheed Martin to begin testing domestically built Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles in 2025.
This all comes as public debate in Australia intensifies around the long-term strategic implications of the AUKUS defense pact. While the agreement—established in 2021 under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President Biden—aims to deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and deepen trilateral defense cooperation with the US and UK, critics argue it could compromise Australia’s sovereignty and draw the country into conflicts it might otherwise avoid, particularly in the event of a Taiwan contingency. There is also growing anxiety over the financial burden, with Australia facing a $2 billion deadline to upgrade its submarine shipyards and no clear guarantee that the investment will yield timely or independent operational capability.
