The United States has quietly added Pakistan to a list of approved buyers for one of its most advanced air-to-air missiles, signaling a potential thaw in defense ties after years of tension.
The Department of Defense confirmed on October 6 that Pakistan was included in a $41.68 million modification to a Raytheon contract for the production of AIM-120C8/D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). The amendment raises the total contract value to $2.51 billion and lists both NATO and non-NATO partners as recipients.
Washington did not specify how many missiles Pakistan would receive, or when deliveries might begin. Defense analysts say the small contract value suggests it covers administrative groundwork, possible training allocations, and regulatory approvals rather than a full shipment.
Strategic signal
The move could nonetheless mark the start of a broader realignment in U.S.–Pakistan defense relations, which have been largely dormant since the United States suspended military aid to Islamabad in 2018. The AIM-120C8 is the export version of the AIM-120D, the U.S. military’s most capable AMRAAM variant, boasting longer range, improved guidance and enhanced resistance to jamming.
Pakistan’s last major air-to-air missile purchase came nearly two decades ago under the “Peace Drive” program, when it bought 500 AIM-120C5s to arm its fleet of F-16C/D Block-52 fighters. Those missiles were reportedly used in a 2019 aerial engagement with India, when the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claimed to have shot down an Indian MiG-21bis — a claim New Delhi denies.
F-16 upgrade prospects
Defense experts say the new contract points to a likely PAF effort to modernize its F-16 fleet. The service operates 18 Block-52 aircraft and several older F-16A/Bs that could require software and radar upgrades to fully integrate newer AMRAAMs.
“This looks like the early phase of an F-16 refresh program,” said a South Asia defense analyst based in Washington. “It’s not about volume yet — it’s about keeping Pakistan aligned with Western weapons ecosystems.”
PAF Chief of Air Staff Zaheer Ahmed Babar visited the U.S. State Department in July, in what officials described as a “courtesy call.” Defense observers now view that visit as part of broader diplomatic groundwork for renewed cooperation.
Regional implications
The decision is likely to draw attention in New Delhi, where officials have long objected to U.S. military assistance to Pakistan. India has invested heavily in its own beyond-visual-range missile programs, including the Astra Mk-II and the European Meteor, to strengthen its deterrence posture.
Washington’s move may also invite scrutiny in Congress, where lawmakers have historically imposed restrictions on arms transfers to Pakistan over concerns about technology security and its ties to China.
Still, the contract adjustment underscores a subtle shift in U.S. defense diplomacy. By keeping Pakistan in the AMRAAM supply chain, Washington maintains leverage and access within the Pakistani Air Force — a force that has historically been the most Western-oriented branch of Pakistan’s military.
Whether this contract grows into a larger weapons deal remains uncertain. For now, it marks a cautious step toward renewed engagement between two militaries that, despite deep mistrust, continue to find overlapping interests in regional stability and counter-terrorism.
