Why Romania's purchase of AIM-120C-8 missiles for its F-16s is crucial for Ukraine

Defense Express writes about this. 

The AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM is the latest air-to-air missile with a range of up to 160 km. Romania is set to acquire it, as confirmed by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency's (DSCA) approval.

The authorization includes up to 186 missiles, with a maximum price of $592 million, averaging $3.18 million per missile. While the final cost in a firm deal could be lower, Romania’s acquisition of the AIM-120C-8 is noteworthy. This is particularly significant because Romania’s air force operates the same F-16 variant as Ukraine.

Moreover, some of the F-16s in both the Romanian and Ukrainian air forces share a common origin — Norway. In November 2022, after a year of negotiations, Romania secured 32 used F-16s for €388 million. Ukraine is also set to receive six F-16s from this batch as military aid.

Defense Express writes that Romania doesn’t operate the NASAMS air defense system, which also uses the AIM-120. This means Bucharest is buying the AIM-120C-8 specifically for its F-16s. Consequently, Ukrainian F-16s can likely use this missile without any modifications. The DSCA’s detailed approval does not mention any necessary adjustments or the need for specialist intervention.

The article says that the specific AIM-120 AMRAAM variant matters greatly to Ukraine's Air Force. The AIM-120C-8 has a 160 km range, compared to 105 km for the AIM-120C-5 and just 50 km for the AIM-120A/B. The ability to launch air-to-air missiles from a greater distance can be crucial in dogfights, giving Ukrainian F-16 pilots a significant edge in combat.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that in September 2023, the Pentagon placed an order with Raytheon for AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles destined for Ukraine, with delivery expected by November 2024. The exact version of the missile wasn’t disclosed, only the price — $192 million. Notably, the US has given Ukraine priority for receiving anti-aircraft missiles for both Patriot and NASAMS systems, including the AIM-120.