Pakistan to Receive Advanced US Air-to-Air Missiles in a Defense Deal

The United States has formally approved the sale of advanced air-to-air missiles to Pakistan as part of a modification to a massive, existing defense contract with manufacturer Raytheon, signaling a significant renewal of military cooperation between Washington and Islamabad.

The deal, which became public following a September 30 press release by the US Department of War (DoW), adds Pakistan to the list of Foreign Military Sales recipients for the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) system. The specific modification, valued at approximately $41.6 million, covers the production of the enhanced AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 missile variants. This inclusion bumps the total cumulative face value of the multi-nation contract to over $2.5 billion, with manufacturing work expected to be completed by May 2030.

The move is viewed by analysts as a strategic recalibration in Washington's defense posture in South Asia. Pakistan, which operates the AMRAAM system on its F-16 fighter jet fleet, was not part of the original contract signed in May. Its subsequent inclusion alongside more than 30 other US allies, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, underscores a noticeable thaw in Pakistan-US relations, which have seen improving ties across economic and strategic sectors in recent months. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) previously acquired a large stock of AMRAAM missiles in 2007 and the weapon was reportedly deployed during the 2019 aerial engagement with India.

While the DoW announcement did not specify the exact number of missiles destined for the Pakistan Air Force, the supply of advanced C8 and D3 variants is expected to enhance the PAF's beyond-visual-range (BVR) capabilities. Experts suggest the AIM-120C-8, an export tuned version of the missile, is the more likely recipient for Pakistan's F-16s, providing crucial updates over the older C-5 variants currently in service.

The development is anticipated to draw a strong reaction from India, which has historically opposed US arms sales to Pakistan on the grounds that they could disturb the regional military balance. However, proponents of the sale argue it is essential for maintaining Pakistan’s airpower trajectory and securing its F-16 fleet, while also providing Washington with continued influence over key defense systems in a strategically vital region. Delivery and production under the overall contract are slated to continue through 2030, marking a long term commitment to the defense industrial partnership.

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