Pakistan is expected to receive AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States.
According to a release by the United States Department of War (DoW), an arms contract recently notified by the department, formerly known as the Department of Defence, includes Pakistan among the buyers of the AMRAAM. The same missile was reportedly used by the Pakistan Air Force during aerial engagements following the 2019 Balakot air strikes.
Balakot Air Strikes
The 2019 Balakot air strikes were conducted by the Indian Air Force targeting a suspected terrorist training camp in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. These preemptive strikes were in direct response to the Pulwama attack, which killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel.
The contract states that work on the order is expected to be completed by May 2030. It is unclear how many, if any, new AMRAAMs will be delivered to Pakistan, but the development has fueled speculation that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) may upgrade its F-16 fleet. In PAF service, the AMRAAM is compatible only with F-16 jets. Earlier this year, PAF Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar visited the US State Department in July.
AIM-120C8 is the export version of the AIM-120D, the primary AMRAAM variant used by the US military. The PAF currently operates the older C5 version, with 500 units acquired for its latest Block 52 F-16s in 2010.
The development comes as ties between Washington and Islamabad show signs of improvement after Pakistan credited US President Donald Trump for arranging a ceasefire after the military conflict with India in May during ‘Operation Sindoor’, and even proposed his name for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Implications For India’s Regional Security
The potential acquisition of advanced AIM-120C8 AMRAAM missiles by Pakistan significantly enhances the strike capabilities of its air force, specifically its F-16 Block 52 fleet. The AIM-120C8 is an export version of the US military’s AIM-120D, featuring improved range, greater accuracy, and advanced electronic counter-countermeasures that allow it to evade sophisticated enemy defenses. Additional features include two-way data links and GPS-assisted navigation for precise target tracking and engagement beyond visual range. The missile is designed for high-speed maneuvering and effective target discrimination, making it highly effective in dynamic air combat scenarios.
Pakistan currently operates the earlier AIM-120C5 variant, which was used during the 2019 aerial engagements with India. The upgrade to the C8 variant represents a substantial enhancement in Pakistan’s air-to-air missile capabilities. This boost in range and targeting precision increases the threat Pakistan’s fighter aircraft pose to Indian aerial defenses.
Pahalgam Terror Attack To Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on May 7 in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. During the overnight offensive, nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were targeted with precision strikes, severely damaging infrastructure used by groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Reports indicate that over 100 militants were killed in the operation.
