The U.S. government executed separate Letters of Offer and Acceptance with three of its key allies to purchase Raytheon's AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

The three countries, in the order they signed their LOAs, are Kuwait, Morocco and Jordan.

"The AIM-120C-7 provides unparalleled air combat and air defense capabilities," said Col. Michael Andersen, commander of the U.S. Air Force's 328th Armament Systems Group. "By equipping our allies with the AIM-120C-7 through the Foreign Military Sales program, the U.S. government strengthens regional security and promotes coalition interoperability."

The three countries will receive an undisclosed quantity of missiles for use in both air-to-air and air defense missions.

"No other missile in production or in development can match AMRAAM for lethality, reliability and overall affordability for the entire life cycle of the missile," said Jim Knox, Raytheon's AMRAAM program director. "AMRAAM, in both the air-to-air and surface-launch applications, is the weapon of choice to protect the people, critical infrastructure and resources of our Arab allies."

AMRAAM gives the warfighter flexibility because it can be quickly transferred from a fighter aircraft to a missile launcher to fulfill its air defense role. Using one missile for two critical missions gives the warfighter a cost-effective logistics and maintenance solution.

AIM-120C-7 has been integrated on the F-16, F-15, F/A-18, Typhoon and the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. It is also the baseline missile for the U.S. Army's Surface Launched-AMRAAM and the NATO-approved Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.

AMRAAM has more than 1.7 million captive-carry hours and more than 2,400 live firings.