The Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office (PMA-259) gained Portugal as its 29th Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9X International Partner, after Portugal announced it signed and accepted the AIM-9X Block II Missile Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) on Sept. 28.

The signed LOA allows PMA-259 to procure 18 AIM-9X Block II missiles on behalf of the Portuguese Air Force to complement Portugal’s F-16 fleet. This procurement will be part of the United States Navy’s Lot 23 Production Contract, which will lead to missile delivery in 2026.

The Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office (PMA-259) acquired Italy as its 28^th Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9X International Partner Dec. 17, 2021.

The Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. notified the Navy International Programs Office that the Italian Air Force accepted and signed the Letter of Offer & Acceptance (LOA) provided by the United States Government.

The Air-to-Air Missiles program office (PMA-259) has accepted delivery of the 10,000^th Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9X Sidewinder for the U.S. Air Force on May 27.

As a joint program with the U.S. Air Force, the Navy-led AIM-9X Block II missile is the most advanced short-range air-to-air missile in the world. The AIM-9X Block II+ missile is one of multiple variants that make up the fifth-generation Infra-red AIM-9X weapon system family.