Pakistan may get advanced AIM-120 missiles from US.
A new US Department of War notice lists Pakistan among nations set to receive advanced AIM-120 air-to-air missiles.
Pakistan Set to Acquire Advanced AIM-120 Missiles from US, Marking Subtle Shift in Bilateral Ties
Pakistan is poised to receive a significant boost to its air defence capabilities, as it is expected to obtain the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States — a move that signals a potential warming in the long-uneasy relations between the two nations. The development, reported by The Express Tribune on Tuesday, has drawn widespread attention across defence and diplomatic circles in South Asia.
According to the report, a recent notification issued by the United States Department of War (DoW), which was previously known as the Department of Defence, lists Pakistan among several allied and partner nations approved to receive the advanced missile system. The AIM-120, produced by American defence giant Raytheon, is among the world’s most sophisticated radar-guided air-to-air missiles, known for its accuracy, speed, and range.
The DoW notice detailed a modification to a previously awarded contract, identified as FA8675-23-C-0037, now valued at over USD 2.51 billion. The modification itself amounts to more than USD 41.6 million, structured under a firm-fixed-price (P00026) arrangement. This upgrade covers a broad set of foreign military sales, including deliveries to Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. Work on the contract is expected to continue until May 2030.
While the exact number of missiles designated for Pakistan has not been disclosed, defence analysts say the inclusion of Pakistan on the list suggests the revival of a degree of trust and military cooperation between Islamabad and Washington — ties that had cooled after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent strategic realignments in the region.
The AIM-120 AMRAAMs are expected to enhance the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) combat readiness, particularly its fleet of F-16 fighter jets. These missiles, which can engage multiple targets beyond visual range, are compatible exclusively with the F-16 aircraft currently in PAF service. Their acquisition is being interpreted as both a technological and symbolic boost to Pakistan’s aerial capabilities.
Military observers recall that the AIM-120 made headlines during the 2019 aerial skirmish between India and Pakistan, when the PAF reportedly used one of the missiles in an engagement that resulted in the downing of an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The incident marked one of the most serious confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in recent history.
The latest U.S. notification also lists an extensive roster of nations covered under the same contract — including the UK, Poland, Pakistan, Germany, Finland, Australia, Romania, Qatar, Oman, South Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain, Kuwait, Sweden, Taiwan, Lithuania, Israel, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey. The wide distribution underscores Washington’s continued reliance on the AIM-120 as a backbone weapon for allied air forces across the world.
In Pakistan, the news has sparked renewed debate about the trajectory of Islamabad-Washington relations. Analysts believe the deal could reflect a cautious re-engagement by the U.S. with Pakistan’s military establishment, possibly aimed at maintaining regional balance as India deepens its defence partnerships with the United States and European powers.
Defence expert Air Marshal (Retd) Shahid Latif commented that the move “demonstrates a subtle acknowledgement by Washington that Pakistan remains a key regional player whose security architecture still matters.” He added that while the purchase may not be large, “its political significance outweighs its quantity.”
For the U.S., the deal fits within a broader strategy of ensuring that allied and partner nations maintain compatible defence systems and interoperability with NATO standards. Pakistan, historically a major non-NATO ally, has long relied on American hardware, especially the F-16, as the cornerstone of its aerial deterrent.
Meanwhile, India has taken note of the development. New Delhi continues to assert that all military de-escalation agreements, including those following the 2019 hostilities, were reached directly between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations — underscoring that bilateral military coordination remains separate from U.S. involvement.
As of now, neither Islamabad nor Washington has publicly commented on the missile deal beyond what has been released in official documents. However, defence watchers believe that this acquisition — though modest in scale — could mark the beginning of a more pragmatic phase in Pakistan–U.S. relations, one rooted less in politics and more in shared strategic interests.
For Pakistan, the move represents not just the procurement of advanced weaponry but a reaffirmation of its relevance in the complex web of global defence diplomacy.