US wants to arm Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters with US AIM-120 AMRAAM guided missiles worth over $1m

American experts last year helped the Armed Forces integrate the AGM-88 High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) on MiG-29 fighters. Now they want to pull an identical trick with another missile.

Here's What We Know

According to Politico, the US Department of Defense is considering the possibility of integrating American all-weather air-to-air guided missiles on the MiG-29. At issue is the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

The key problem is the link between the missile and the fighter's radar. If this succeeds, the AIM-120 will become the first American air-to-air missile in service with the Ukrainian Air Force. The AGM-88 HARM is designed to destroy enemy radars on the ground.

The AIM-120 AMRAAM is a medium-range aviation missile. It exists in several variants at a cost of $1 million and has a maximum launch range of 180 km (AIM-120D). Which of the variants might be in front of Ukraine is not known yet.

The desire to integrate the AIM-120 AMRAAM on MiG-29 is related to the reluctance of western countries to send fighters to Ukraine. Many aircraft carry the missile, including the American F-15, F-16, F-22, F-35 along with the Swedish JAS 39 Gripen.

Source: Politico