Pakistan’s AMRAAM Dreams Crushed: US Clarifies ‘No New Missiles’ – Only Maintenance Support For Aging Arsenal | World News
The US on Friday rejected reports suggesting that new Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) would be supplied to Pakistan under a new contract upgrade, stating that the change only covers maintenance and spare parts and not new weapons.
In a statement, the U.S. Embassy explained that the War Department’s Sept. 30 announcement was merely “an amendment to the existing Foreign Military Sales contract for sustainment and spare parts to several countries, including Pakistan.”
No Upgrade to Pakistan’s F-16 Capabilities
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The embassy emphasized that “contrary to false media reports, no part of the contract amendment in question is directed towards the delivery of new AMRAAM to Pakistan.” They added that the sustainment study “does not involve an upgrade to any of Pakistan’s existing capabilities.” This means Pakistan’s aging F-16 fleet remains stuck with 2007-era technology.
This statement comes after media reports, including Pakistan’s own Dawn newspaper, misinterpreted the US War Department’s September 30 contract update as the sale of a brand new missile to Pakistan. Raytheon Co., headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, has received a US$41 million modification to its existing AMRAAM production contract, bringing the total value to over US$2.5 billion, the official announcement announced.
Inclusion of Pakistan for Maintenance Support Only
According to the War Department’s original statement, the contract covers foreign military sales to several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Australia, Qatar, Oman, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Kuwait, Turkey and Pakistan, and is expected to be completed by May 2030.
Although the announcement listed Pakistan among the participating countries, the US Embassy has now unequivocally confirmed that this participation is strictly related to ongoing sustainment support and not new missile deliveries that will enhance Pakistan’s combat capabilities.
Pakistan’s Aging AMRAAM Stock
Pakistan had previously purchased around 700 AMRAAMs for its F-16 fleet in 2007 – almost two decades ago – which was the largest international order for an air-to-air missile system at the time. The same obsolete missiles are all Pakistan has and all Pakistan will continue to have.
(via ANI Inputs)
