US Approves AIM-120 AMRAAM Sale to Pakistan: Strategic Implications for Regional Security and India

The AIM-120 is considered one of the most widely utilized beyond-visual-range air combat systems globally.

Pakistan is poised to receive AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States, following its recent shipment of mineral samples to Washington under a rare earths agreement. The United States Department of War (DoW)—formerly known as the Department of Defense—has officially listed Islamabad among the purchasers for these sophisticated weapons in a recently notified arms contract.

This approval follows a significant diplomatic engagement where US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House, signaling warming relations between Washington and Islamabad.

According to the DoW notification, Raytheon, the AMRAAM manufacturer, received a modification exceeding USD 41.6 million on a "previously awarded contract (FA8675-23-C-0037)" with "firm-fixed-price (P00026)" specifications for producing the missile's C8 and D3 variants.

The modified contract now includes Pakistan in its foreign military sales recipients, raising the total contract value to more than USD 2.51 billion. Completion of this order is anticipated by May 2030.

The notification specifically states: "This contract involves foreign military sales to the UK, Poland, Pakistan, Germany, Finland, Australia, Romania, Qatar, Oman, Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain, Kuwait, Finland, Sweden, Taiwan, Lithuania, Israel, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey."

What It Means For India

While the exact quantity of AMRAAM missiles destined for Pakistan remains undisclosed, this development has sparked speculation about potential upgrades to Pakistan Air Force's F-16 fleet.

The AMRAAM is exclusively compatible with the F-16 fighter jets operated by the Pakistan Air Force. According to Pakistani newspaper The Express Tribune, this missile was reportedly used to down the Indian Air Force MiG-21 flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman during the February 2019 aerial engagement.

About The Missile

Defense publication Quwa reports that the AIM-120C8 represents the export version of the AIM-120D, which serves as the primary AMRAAM variant in US service. Currently, the Pakistan Air Force operates the earlier C5 variant, with 500 units acquired alongside their latest Block 52 F-16s in 2010.

The AIM-120 is renowned as one of the world's most extensively deployed beyond-visual-range (BVR) air combat weapons. Its "fire-and-forget" capability enables launching over significant distances and independent maneuvering without requiring continuous radar lock. The missile employs onboard radar technology to track and pursue targets, eliminating the need for pilot guidance throughout its flight path.

This development follows Pakistan Air Force Chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar's diplomatic visit to the US State Department in July.

US-Pak Relations

This arms deal emerges amid improving US-Pakistan relations, particularly after the four-day military conflict between Pakistan and India in May. Pakistan has publicly credited US President Donald Trump for facilitating a ceasefire and even proposed his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. Meanwhile, India has consistently maintained that the cessation of hostilities with Pakistan resulted from direct communications between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both military establishments.