The United States has approved the sale of advanced AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM missiles to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), signalling a revival in bilateral defence cooperation and modernisation of Pakistan’s air fleet.
According to an official notification by the U.S. Department of War (formerly Department of Defence), Pakistan has been added to the list of recipients under a $2.51 billion contract awarded to Raytheon for the production of AIM-120C8 and D3 variants. The latest modification, worth $41.68 million, includes Pakistan alongside NATO and non-NATO allies such as the UK, Germany, Turkey, and Japan. Work on the order is expected to be completed by May 2030.
These advanced missiles, designed for beyond-visual-range air combat, will significantly enhance the capabilities of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets. The AIM-120D-3 model offers greater range, accuracy, and electronic countermeasure resistance compared to the earlier AIM-120C5 variant acquired by Pakistan in 2010.
Defence analysts view this development as a major step forward in Pakistan’s long-standing efforts to upgrade its air defence amid regional security challenges. The approval also reflects a gradual warming of U.S.-Pakistan defence ties after years of limited cooperation.
Notably, PAF Chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu’s visit to Washington in July, where he held discussions with senior U.S. defence officials, is believed to have paved the way for this progress.
In PAF service, the AMRAAM is exclusively deployed on F-16s and was notably used during Operation Swift Retort in 2019 to down an Indian MiG-21. The inclusion in the AMRAAM supply list reinforces Pakistan’s role among U.S.-aligned air forces operating advanced missile systems.
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