RAAF seeks to buy new missiles

Australia wants a stockpile of advanced air-to-air missiles for use on the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornets and eventually on the new F-35 Lightning Joint Strike Fighters.

The RAAF will get 350 AIM-9X-2 Sidewinder Tactical Missiles plus training missiles, test equipment and spare parts from the US in a deal worth $US534 million.

This was disclosed by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency following US State Department approval of the sale.

DSCA said the missiles would improve RAAF air-to-air capability and the ability to defend Australia and co-operate with allied air forces.

Under what's termed a Foreign Military Sale acquisition, Australia will buy the missiles from their manufacturer Raytheon Missile Systems through the US military.

This is the latest version of the widely used Sidewinder missile, configured for launch from F-35 and the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor.