The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $567.8 million sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to Belgium, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced Monday.
The package covers 320 AIM-9X Block II and 258 Block II+ missiles, along with 80 guidance units, missile containers, software, and related support.
The AIM-9X, built by RTX, is the latest version of the heat-seeking Sidewinder. The Block II introduces updated fuze and guidance systems, while the Block II+ adds software upgrades.
According to DSCA, the weapons will be integrated into Belgium’s F-35 Lightning II fleet, enhancing the country’s role in NATO air defense.
“This 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 force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the DSCA said.
“The proposed sale will improve Belgium’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing air-to-air missiles and guidance units for Belgium’s F-35 fleet in support of NATO’s defense mission. Belgium will have no difficulty absorbing these weapons into its armed forces,” it added.
The timeline for delivering the AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles has not been disclosed.
Belgium ordered 34 F-35s in 2018 to replace its F-16s and expanded the fleet to 45 with an additional order in July. Training for Belgian pilots began in December 2024 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, and the aircraft are scheduled to be fully operational by 2031.
