Islamabad/Washington: The strategic closeness between Pakistan and the United States (US) appears to be deepening once again. Following a rare earth minerals deal and the offer of a potential U.S. port base on the Arabian Sea, Islamabad has now secured a major defense boost — the U.S. has approved the sale of cutting-edge AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).

Raytheon Contract Details

The sale was confirmed through a notification from the U.S. Department of Defense, which listed Pakistan among 35 international buyers of the missile system.

According to the Pentagon, Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, received a $41.68 million firm-fixed-price modification to its earlier contract (FA8675-23-C-0037) for the production of AMRAAM C8 and D3 variants. This modification increases the total contract value from $2.47 billion to $2.51 billion.

The work is scheduled to be carried out in Tucson and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2030.

The foreign military sales under this contract include countries such as the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Finland, Australia, Romania, Qatar, Oman, South Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain, Kuwait, Sweden, Taiwan, Lithuania, Israel, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey.

Deliveries to Pakistan are expected by 2030, marking a significant upgrade to its F-16 fleet, currently the only aircraft capable of deploying AMRAAMs.

US Approves Sale of Advanced AMRAAM Missiles to Pakistan, Among 35 Global Buyers

AMRAAM D-3: A Missile With Historical Significance

The AMRAAM is not new to South Asia’s skies. During the 2019 aerial clash following India’s Balakot strikes, Pakistan’s F-16s fired the missile type, downing an Indian MiG-21 flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was subsequently captured and later released.

Developed by U.S. defense giant Raytheon, the AMRAAM is one of the most advanced “fire-and-forget” air-to-air missiles in the world. It uses an active radar seeker and onboard computer to track targets independently, allowing pilots to engage multiple threats while maneuvering.

Compared to its predecessor, the AIM-7 Sparrow, the AMRAAM is smaller, faster, and more lethal, capable of striking targets even at low altitudes and in cluttered environments. The D-3 version being sold to Pakistan is the export variant of the AIM-120D, the most modern version in U.S. service.

Technological Leap for the Pakistan Air Force

For the PAF, this deal represents a major technological leap. Islamabad currently operates the AIM-120C-5 variant, acquired alongside Block-52 F-16s in 2010. Defense analysts say Pakistan has long sought newer AMRAAMs to match India’s Rafale jets equipped with Meteor missiles, considered among the world’s most advanced beyond-visual-range weapons.

The approval follows a series of high-level meetings in Washington between Pakistan Air Chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and senior U.S. officials earlier this year. Analysts note that the timing highlights a deliberate U.S. effort to re-engage Pakistan militarily, even as Islamabad maintains strong defense ties with China.

US Strategic Calculations

The missile sale is also viewed as part of Washington’s broader strategy to balance influence in South Asia, particularly as China strengthens its footprint in Pakistan’s military and infrastructure sectors. Over 80% of Pakistan’s recent weapons imports have come from Beijing, including the PL-15 air-to-air missile and HQ-9 air defense systems.

At the same time, Pakistan has offered the U.S. access to rare earth resources and the potential to operate a new Arabian Sea port at Pasni, providing a strategic alternative to China’s Gwadar base.

India Watches Closely

For India, the development is unsettling. The AMRAAM deal revives memories of the 2019 clashes and signals a potential U.S. tilt toward Islamabad. Relations between Washington and New Delhi have cooled in recent months amid higher U.S. tariffs on Indian goods and disagreements over defense procurement.

Analysts warn that advanced missile systems in Pakistan’s hands could alter the tactical balance in future aerial confrontations. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force continues to strengthen its fleet with Rafales, Tejas Mk-1A, and the upcoming Astra-III indigenous missile system.

The Bigger Picture

Whether this U.S. move is a reward for Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach or part of a larger geopolitical strategy, one fact is clear — Washington and Islamabad are rekindling their old strategic chemistry. With the AMRAAM D-3 deal now finalized, Pakistan’s skies will soon host some of the world’s most lethal air combat weapons, with India observing every development closely.

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