The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Dec. 21 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Turkey for SIDEWINDER missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $140 million.

The Government of Turkey has requested a possible sale of 117 AIM-9X-2 SIDEWINDER Block II All-Up-Round Missiles, 6 AIM-9X-2 Block II Tactical Guidance Units, 6 Dummy Air Training Missiles, 130 LAU-129 Launchers, containers, missile support and test equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts,personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance and other related logistics support. The estimated cost is $140 million.

The Turkish Air Force is modernizing its fighter aircraft to better support its own air defense needs. The proposed sale of AIM-9X-2 missiles will improve Turkey’s capability for self defense, modernization,regional security, and interoperability with the U.S. and other NATO members, making it a more valuable partner in an increasingly important area of the world. Turkey will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this weapon system will not alter the basic military balance in the region.Congress has 15 days to reject the sale or it will be automatically authorized.

The missile entered service with the United States Navy in 1956, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces after five decades. The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a family of heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile mostly carried by fighter aircraft and recently were integrated onto certain gunship helicopters.The launch-and-leave air combat missile uses passive infrared (IR) energy for acquisition and tracking and can be employed in near beyond visual range and within visual range arenas.The missile features a fifth-generation seeker and thrust vectoring control that provides unprecedented performance and extremely high off-boresight capability, which gives a pilot first-shot, first-kill dominance.

US are planning to grant Two Guided Missile Frigates to Turkey

On the otherwise,The US announcement on the possible sale of the Sidewinder missiles comes amid Congress's plans to debate a bill that calls for two guided missile frigates, USS Halyburton (FFG-40) and USS Thach (FFG-43), to be given to Turkey. President Barack Obama to grant the provision of guided missile-firing naval vessels to Turkey, along with several other countries, including Thailand and Mexico.