Pakistan will receive AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States, signalling a new phase in defence collaboration between the two nations, according to an official statement from the US Department of War (DoW).
Details of the contract
The updated arms contract, issued by the DoW (formerly the Department of Defense), confirmed Pakistan among the foreign buyers of the missile system manufactured by Raytheon. Under the agreement, Raytheon received an additional USD 41.6 million on a previously awarded contract (FA8675-23-C-0037) for production of the C8 and D3 variants of the AMRAAM, raising the total contract value to over USD 2.51 billion.
While the statement did not specify the exact number of missiles Pakistan would receive, the inclusion of Pakistan in the programme is expected to upgrade its F-16 fleet. The AMRAAM is compatible with the F-16 aircraft operated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and has been used in combat scenarios, including the 2019 incident involving an Indian Air Force MiG-21 flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
Variants and upgrades
According to defence publication Quwa, the AIM-120C8 variant included in the new order is the export version of the AIM-120D, the most advanced AMRAAM in US service. Pakistan currently operates the older C5 variant, with approximately 500 units acquired in 2010 alongside its Block 52 F-16s.
Broader defence implications
The move comes amid warming Pakistan-US relations. Last month, then-US President Donald Trump met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Washington DC. Earlier in June, Munir had held a rare one-on-one meeting with the US President at the Oval Office.
Furthermore, PAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar visited the US State Department in July, highlighting enhanced military ties between Islamabad and Washington since the brief India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025. Following the clash, Pakistan credited Trump for brokering a ceasefire, a claim rejected by India, which said the truce followed direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMO) of both countries.
Global context of the contract
The AIM-120 programme also covers several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, with work under the agreement scheduled for completion by May 2030. Analysts believe the missiles will strengthen Pakistan’s air defence capabilities and provide its F-16 fleet with upgraded long-range air-to-air combat potential.
Conclusion
The latest AMRAAM deal reflects renewed defence cooperation between the US and Pakistan, underscoring Islamabad’s efforts to modernise its air combat fleet while signalling Washington’s strategic engagement in South Asia. While exact delivery timelines are yet to be revealed, the development is expected to bolster Pakistan’s operational readiness in regional air defence and strategic deterrence.