In a significant move that shows a revitalized defense partnership, Pakistan has been included in a major U.S. Foreign Military Sales contract for Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) . The contract modification, announced by the U.S. Department of War on September 30, adds Pakistan to a list of over 30 allied nations approved to receive the advanced AIM-120C-8 and D-3 missile variants from defense contractor Raytheon . This development signals a positive shift in U.S.-Pakistan relations and will significantly enhance the operational capability of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
The U.S. Air Force awarded Raytheon a firm-fixed-price modification of $41.6 million, increasing the total contract value to approximately $2.5 billion, with all work to be completed at the company's facility in Tucson, Arizona, by May 2030 . For the PAF, this deal provides access to the latest AMRAAM variants. The AIM-120C-8, identified as the most probable version for Pakistan, represents a substantial technological leap . It features the Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R) modernization package, which replaces obsolete components with new circuit cards and a next-generation processor. This upgrade enhances the missile's resistance to electronic countermeasures and improves its computational capacity for future software updates, all while maintaining compatibility with the PAF's existing F-16 launch systems .
The integration of these advanced missiles will profoundly augment the PAF's beyond-visual-range combat prowess. The AMRAAM is a fire-and-forget weapon equipped with an active radar seeker, allowing pilots to engage multiple targets at ranges exceeding 90 kilometers and then maneuver to safety . This capability is exclusively compatible with the PAF's F-16 fleet and is a system with which Pakistani pilots have proven operational proficiency. The missiles were famously employed to great effect during the PAF's Operation Swift Retort in February 2019, a mission that successfully defended Pakistani airspace . This new contract ensures the PAF can maintain a modern and lethal air defense capability for the foreseeable future.
This defense agreement is one facet of a broader and rapidly expanding strategic dialogue between Islamabad and Washington . Recent high-level engagements, including meetings between President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Army Chief General Asim Munir, have set the stage for this renewed cooperation . The partnership extends beyond defense, encompassing a $500 million U.S. investment in Pakistan's critical minerals sector and the negotiation of reduced reciprocal tariffs . Furthermore, this U.S. overture coincides with Pakistan's recent landmark mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, a pact that analysts suggest is partly orchestrated by Washington to recalibrate security dynamics in the Middle East and South Asia .
The inclusion of Pakistan in this advanced missile program marks a departure from past friction and heralds a new chapter in bilateral ties. It recognizes Pakistan's crucial role in regional stability and aligns with the country's efforts to diversify its international partnerships while addressing its legitimate defense needs . This deal, coupled with growing economic collaboration, demonstrates that the two nations are entering a promising new phase of economic and strategic partnership, with Pakistan firmly in the driver's seat regarding its own interests in South Asia .