By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
Raytheon Missile Systems of the United States has been awarded a contract to build AIM-9X tactical air-to-air missiles for South Korea's F-15K aircraft, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a press release Monday.
The South Korean Air Force will receive a total of 102 AIM-9X missiles, and associated equipment and services, it said.
The AIM-9 missile is a supersonic, heat-guided, air-to-air missile carried by most western fighter aircraft. The missile is used for self-defense purposes in a close range combat situation, less than 20 kilometers, also known as a dogfight.
The AIM-9X is the most advanced variant.