$5.9M to Upgrade 310 AIM-9 Sidewinders for Pakistan

[TomCat111]

$5.9M to Upgrade 310 AIM-9 Sidewinders for Pakistan

Posted 29-Dec-2006 04:52


AIM-9MRaytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ received a $5.9 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed price contract (N00019-03-C-0003) for the conversion of 310 AIM-9M Sidewinder short range air-air missiles to AIM-9M-8/9s, and for the procurement of 10 Captive Air Training Missiles and 20 guidance control sections for the Government of Pakistan under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Work will be performed in Tucson, AZ (84%); Rocket Center, WV (13%); and Andover, MA (3%), and is expected to be complete in October 2007. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract.

This sale may be connected to a $650 million weapons package that is in turn part of a $5.1 billion upgrade & expansion of Pakistan's F-16 fleet. That June 28, 2006 weapons package request included 200 AIM-9M-8/9 Sidewinder Short-Range Air-Air Missiles, the version before the fifth-generation AIM-9X. On the other hand, DID's October 2005 article covered the sale of 300 AIM-9M Sidewinders to Pakistan, which could make this contract an independent modification of Pakistan's existing AIM-9M stockpile.

 

[pg7]

pakistan should make efforts to have multiple sources for wvr and bvr missiles. co-operation with SA and Ukraine should be enhanced in addition to already existing cooperation with China

 

[Owais]

Thats a really great news :flag:
Hope that one not get embargoed

 

[falcone]

There should not be a problem becasuse these are missiles that were already ordered that are being brought up to AIM-9M 8/9 standard (they were originally AIM-9M 1/2).

 

[niaz]

There should not be a problem becasuse these are missiles that were already ordered that are being brought up to AIM-9M 8/9 standard (they were originally AIM-9M 1/2).

I have a question from people in the know. As a chemical engineer; I am aware of the problems of storing spare parts and 'mouthballing' chemical plants. In the oil indusrty we use either the CO2 or gas oil. For example, a refinery when mouthballed is filled gas oil so that it does not rust and can be sold and re-used somewhere else. What do you do to store expensive items such as sidewinders. You don't use the same in the peace time. How do store say an AIM -9L for 10 years and ensure that it remains in working condition. There must be a shelf life, how much is it??

 

[Adux]

Niaz,

THats what even i thought, After the shell-life you just cant upgrade them or something. You just destroy them. Blain would be able to answer a bit more properly

 

[Keysersoze]

I have a question from people in the know. As a chemical engineer; I am aware of the problems of storing spare parts and 'mouthballing' chemical plants. In the oil indusrty we use either the CO2 or gas oil. For example, a refinery when mouthballed is filled gas oil so that it does not rust and can be sold and re-used somewhere else. What do you do to store expensive items such as sidewinders. You don't use the same in the peace time. How do store say an AIM -9L for 10 years and ensure that it remains in working condition. There must be a shelf life, how much is it??

You wouldn't is the short answer.....even small arms ammunition can't be kept for that long. However the missiles in question were purchased in 2005 so there is no issue there. the ful notification states these new missiles will replace the Aim inventory in PAK.
There was also a additonal purchase of 200 new build AIM-9M-8/9 with the F-16 deal