US to give Pakistan advanced missiles for F-16 jets

The US will give Pakistan the latest missiles that can be launched from F-16 fighter jets, a move that could pose challenge to the Indian Air Force in any future skirmish with the neighbouring country.

The missiles have the ability to hit targets in air up to 200 km; the range is greater than that of Pakistan’s PL-15E, which is an export version of the Chinese-made air-launched missile. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) already flies the F-16.

Can hit targets up to 200 km

The C8 and the D3 versions of AIM-120, an ‘advanced medium-range air-to-air missile’ known as AMRAAM in military paralance, have the ability to hit targets in air up to 200 km

 

These radar-guided missiles engage enemy aircraft at beyond-visual ranges, and can be used in the air defence system. Pakistan’s air defence failed badly during Operation Sindoor

The US Department of War has issued a contract to missile-maker Raytheon for "advanced medium range air-to-air missile variants -- the C8 and D3 ”.

Expected to be ready by May 30, 2030, the latest versions will be supplied to Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Australia, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Japan, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain and Israel, among others.

The C8 and the D3 versions are Raytheon’s under-development iterations of the AIM-120, which is an ‘advanced medium-range air-to-air missile’ and shortened in military parlance as AMRAAM. These radar-guided missiles engage enemy aircraft at beyond-visual ranges. The missile-maker has a $3.5 billion contract for the next lot of missiles.

The AMRAAM is integrated on 14 types of platforms across 43 countries and can also be used in the air defence system. Pakistan’s air defence failed badly during Operation Sindoor as the Brahmos missile struck 13 PAF bases. A new software gives AMRAAM the capability against a wider variety of threats and increase the probability of hitting the targets.

India’s military calculus on Pakistan is undergoing a reset amid the renewed US-Pakistan military ties. A concern in South Block was about Washington DC’s potential to re-arm Islamabad with the latest missiles, jets and radar. In the past decade or more, fresh US military supplies to Pakistan had tapered off. However, after operation Sindoor, the US-Pak military and strategic ties are getting renewed.

In July, PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu was in the US to discuss technology and military hardware at the Pentagon. Post-operation, Pak army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has made three visits to the US. In June, a Pakistan delegation to the US, led by its minister for energy Musadik Malik urged the US to supply air defence systems and additional fighter jets.