A recent Pentagon contract modification dated September 30, 2025, includes Pakistan among 35 countries eligible for a $41 million upgrade to the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) system. The contract, awarded to Raytheon, covers software upgrades and component improvements for the C8 and D3 variants of the missile, indicating routine maintenance rather than new missile acquisitions. An additional $11.2 million contract focuses on obsolescence management to modernize aging missile components. Pakistan’s AMRAAM arsenal, integrated with its F-16 Block 52 fighters, reflects sustained operational capability rather than expansion, as Islamabad increasingly relies on Chinese-origin missiles like the PL-12 and PL-15 for air combat enhancements. The upgrade signals continued US support under existing Foreign Military Sales frameworks, ensuring interoperability and extending missile life without enhancing Pakistan’s offensive air power. This development follows improving US-Pakistan ties after diplomatic engagement at the White House in 2025, but it has raised strategic concerns in New Delhi given regional military dynamics, underscoring the recalibration of Pakistan’s defence posture amid evolving geopolitical partnerships. Completion of contract work is scheduled by May 2030.