US Clarifies No New AIM-120 Missiles Being Sold to Pakistan Despite Contract Amendment Reports

The AIM-120, considered one of the most widely utilized beyond-visual-range air combat weapons globally, has been the subject of recent clarifications from US officials.

On Friday, the United States issued a statement refuting reports that Pakistan would be receiving new Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) under a recently modified contract. The US clarified that the amendment pertains solely to sustainment and spare parts support rather than the delivery of new weapons systems.

The US Embassy released an official statement explaining that the Department of War's September 30 announcement referenced "an amendment to an existing Foreign Military Sales contract for sustainment and spares for several countries, including Pakistan."

The embassy emphasized that "contrary to false media reports, no part of this referenced contract modification is for deliveries of new AMRAAMs to Pakistan." They further clarified that the sustainment work "does not include an upgrade to any of Pakistan's current capabilities."

This clarification addresses media reports, including those published in Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, which had interpreted the US Department of War's September 30 contract update as indicating a new missile sale to Pakistan. The official announcement had stated that Raytheon Co., based in Tucson, Arizona, received a USD 41 million modification to an existing AMRAAM production contract, bringing the total value to over USD 2.5 billion.

According to the original Department of War statement, the contract includes foreign military sales to multiple countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Australia, Qatar, Oman, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Kuwait, Turkiye, and Pakistan, with completion expected by May 2030.

While Pakistan was listed among the participating nations, the US Embassy has now confirmed that this inclusion refers only to ongoing sustainment support, not new missile acquisitions.

Previously, Pakistan had purchased approximately 700 AMRAAMs in 2007 for its F-16 fleet, which at that time represented the largest international order for this air-to-air missile system.

The speculation about a potential new supply agreement emerged shortly after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir met with former US President Donald Trump in September.