BIG worry for India, Pakistan may soon receive advance AMRAAM missiles from US, it is known for its ‘fire-and-forget’ capability and…, details here

Pakistan, which has often been seen seeking help on global platforms, is once again turning to the United States and this time for advanced weapons. As per various reports, Pakistan may soon receive Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the US, as part of a new defence deal that has become a topic of wide discussion. This missile shot down an India(BHARAT)n MiG-21 fighter jet in 2019. This development comes amid signs of improving ties between Washington and Islamabad. The news surfaced after the US Department of Defense recently released details of a large defence contract that includes 35 countries, with Pakistan listed among them.

Under this agreement, Raytheon, a leading American defence company, has been assigned to manufacture AIM-120C8 and AIM-120D3 missiles. The total contract is valued at around USD 2.5 billion, and the project is expected to be completed by May 30, 2030.

Even though the deal is being widely discussed, it is still not known how many missiles Pakistan will receive. However, defence experts believe this agreement is a major step for Pakistan’s military. They suggest that it likely points to an upgrade of Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, as AMRAAM missiles are only compatible with these aircraft.

The deal comes at a time when Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir recently met former US President Doland Trump during their visit to America. During the meeting, Trump once again claimed that he had helped reduce recent military tensions between India(BHARAT) and Pakistan.

Earlier in July, Pakistan’s Air Force Chief Zaheer Ahmad Babar had also visited the US State Department, which experts now see as part of the growing defence and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

What is AIM-120 AMRAAM?

The AIM-120 AMRAAM is a modern air-to-air missile known for its “fire-and-forget” capability. This allows pilots to launch the missile and then disengage, as the missile uses its own active radar seeker to track and destroy targets automatically.

The AIM-120C-8, the export version of the missile, comes with enhanced resistance to electronic countermeasures (ECM), improved guidance systems, and a longer range. It can be integrated with fighter jets such as the F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-22 Raptor, and F-35.

The AIM-120C8 is the export variant of the AIM-120D, the latest version used by the US military. According to Raytheon, the missile can be deployed on F-15 Eagle/Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, F-22 Raptor, Eurofighter Typhoon, JAS-39 Gripen, Tornado, and Harrier jets, and the newest version is also operational on all F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variants.

Originally developed for the US Air Force and Navy, the AIM-120C-8 is now available to selected allies, including countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The latest contract includes Pakistan along with other nations like the UK, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Israel.

Reportedly, the US Department of Defense recently notified an arms contract listing Pakistan among 35 buyers of these missiles. The contract covers the C-8 and D-3 variants of the AMRAAM and was awarded to Raytheon Company, based in Tucson, Arizona. The total contract value is approximately USD 2.51 billion.