Saturday, March 29, 2025
A media report on Tuesday suggested that Pakistan is likely to receive AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the United States, signaling a deepening of defense cooperation under President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to a report published in The Express Tribune, the U.S. Department of War (DoW) recently announced a major arms agreement involving multiple allied nations. Pakistan has been listed among the countries authorized to purchase AIM-120 AMRAAMs.
Other buyers in the deal reportedly include the UK, 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.
Although it remains unclear how many AMRAAM missiles Pakistan will acquire, defense analysts believe the move could significantly enhance the capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) F-16 fleet.
Currently, the PAF operates older AIM-120C5 variants, 500 of which were acquired in 2010 along with the induction of the Block 52 F-16 jets. The latest version being exported is the AIM-120C8, a downgraded version of the AIM-120D, which remains in frontline U.S. service.
The timing of the deal has sparked discussion about Washington’s willingness to support Pakistan in modernizing its air combat assets.
The news comes shortly after PAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar visited the U.S. State Department in July, where discussions on defense cooperation reportedly took place.
Pakistan has sought to improve ties with Washington, especially after heightened tensions with India earlier this year in May. Islamabad credited President Donald Trump with mediating between the two nuclear-armed neighbors during the standoff and even went as far as to urge a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for him.
The missile deal is being viewed as another step in strengthening U.S.-Pakistan defense and strategic relations, which have seen renewed warmth under Trump. For Pakistan, acquiring advanced AMRAAMs would not only bolster its deterrence against regional rivals but also mark a significant upgrade to its air combat capabilities.
