The United States Department of War (DoW) — formerly known as the Department of Defense — has announced an arms contract naming Pakistan among the buyers for AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), it emerged on Tuesday.
Under the contract, Raytheon, the missile’s manufacturer, has been awarded a $41.6 million modification (P00026) to an existing firm-fixed-price agreement (FA8675-23-C-0037) for the production of AIM-120C8 and AIM-120D3 variants. The update raises the total contract value to over $2.51 billion.
The notification lists Pakistan among more than 30 foreign military sales recipients, including the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Finland, Australia, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The contract is expected to be completed by May 2030.
If delivered, the new missiles will enhance the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) F-16 fleet, providing upgraded long-range air combat capabilities.
The AMRAAM is compatible exclusively with the F-16 in PAF service and was reportedly used during Operation Swift Retort in February 2019, when the PAF shot down an Indian Air Force MiG-21 flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
According to defence publication Quwa, the AIM-120C8 is the export equivalent of the AIM-120D, currently the most advanced version in U.S. service.
The PAF presently operates the older AIM-120C5 variant, around 500 units of which were procured alongside its F-16 Block 52 jets in 2010.
The development marks a significant step in U.S.-Pakistan defence cooperation, reflecting continued military engagement under the Trump administration despite broader geopolitical sensitivities.
