US Approves Advanced Missile Sale to Pakistan, Strengthening Defence Ties
In a significant shift in defence relations, the United States has formally approved the sale of AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Pakistan This marks a renewed era of military cooperation between Washington and Islamabad.
The approval comes as part of a larger USD 2.5 billion contract with American defense firm Raytheon to deliver these cutting-edge missiles to Pakistan’s air force. Under the agreement, Pakistan will gradually receive the AIM-120D-3 variants by 2030. The upgrade is aimed at replacing older AIM-120C-5 missiles currently in service with Pakistan’s F-16 Block-52 fleet.
High-level discussions held earlier this year between Pakistani defence leadership and U.S. officials paved the way for the approval.The Pakistani side has emphasized that this modernization is crucial to keeping pace with regional security challenges.
The AIM-120D-3 represents one of the latest iterations in the AMRAAM family, offering improved range, higher reliability, better guidance, and enhanced electronic counter-countermeasures compared to older C-series models.These features are expected to bolster Pakistan’s beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat ability, giving its fighter jets stronger air superiority tools.
By integrating these missiles into its F-16 fleet, Pakistan aims to better deter potential adversaries and strengthen its aerial defence posture. The upgrade also underscores Islamabad’s intent to modernize its defence architecture through partnerships with Western technology providers.
The approval comes as part of a larger USD 2.5 billion contract with American defense firm Raytheon to deliver these cutting-edge missiles to Pakistan’s air force. Under the agreement, Pakistan will gradually receive the AIM-120D-3 variants by 2030. The upgrade is aimed at replacing older AIM-120C-5 missiles currently in service with Pakistan’s F-16 Block-52 fleet.
High-level discussions held earlier this year between Pakistani defence leadership and U.S. officials paved the way for the approval.The Pakistani side has emphasized that this modernization is crucial to keeping pace with regional security challenges.
The AIM-120D-3 represents one of the latest iterations in the AMRAAM family, offering improved range, higher reliability, better guidance, and enhanced electronic counter-countermeasures compared to older C-series models.These features are expected to bolster Pakistan’s beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat ability, giving its fighter jets stronger air superiority tools.
By integrating these missiles into its F-16 fleet, Pakistan aims to better deter potential adversaries and strengthen its aerial defence posture. The upgrade also underscores Islamabad’s intent to modernize its defence architecture through partnerships with Western technology providers.
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