Indonesia, Malaysia Approved for Air-to-Air Weapons Sales

The State Department approved sales of advanced air-to-air missiles to two key Southeast Asian partner nations. The first is a potential $21-million sale of 10 new AIM-120C7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and accompanying spare parts, support, and test equipment to Malaysia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced May 5. The sale will aid a “key partner” who is seeking to enhances its homeland defense capabilities and deter against “regional threats,” states the announcement. The sale also will enhance the Malaysian military’s interoperability with US forces in regular combined air combat training and “ensures a sustained air-to-air capability” for the country’s F/A-18D fighter force. DSCA also announced May 5 the State Department approved a potential $47-million sale of 30 AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder short range air-to-air missiles, associated training missiles, and other components to Indonesia. Indonesia, which has signed an agreement with the US to upgrade to newer-block surplus USAF F-16s, will become “more capable of defeating threats to regional stability” and will strengthen its homeland defense as a result of the sale, as well as improve its air force’s ability to participate in “current and future coalition efforts.”