Trump–Shehbaz Sharif friendship to end? US makes BIG statement on selling new AMRAAM missiles to Pakistan, says, ‘No part of contract.., upgrade to..’

Trump and Shehbaz Sharif’s friendship seems to be facing a setback as the United States has clarified that it will not supply new AIM-120 missiles to Pakistan, but rather limit its loan support to the maintenance of the existing stockpile. Dismissing the reports, the United States on Friday suggested that Pakistan would receive new Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) under a recently amended contract, clarifying that the modification relates only to sustainment and spare parts support and does not involve any delivery of new weapons.

What exactly did the US clarify regarding the contract with Pakistan?

This clarification came after the US Department of War on Friday released a standard contract list on September 30, which had included Pakistan’s name. In a statement, the US Embassy said the Department of War’s September 30 announcement referred to “an amendment to an existing Foreign Military Sales contract for sustainment and spares for several countries, including Pakistan.”

The embassy stressed that “contrary to false media reports, no part of this referenced contract modification is for deliveries of new Advanced Medium-Range-Air to-Air-Missiles(AMRAAMs) to Pakistan.” Furthermore, it added that the sustainment work does not include an upgrade to any of Pakistan’s current capabilities.

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Who is affected by the US decision on AMRAAM missiles?

After the publication of this list, several media outlets reported that Pakistan would receive new AIM-120 missiles from the US. Now the US administration has clarified that this is a sustainment and spare parts contract and does not involve the provision of any new missiles or technological upgrades to Pakistan.

The official release had announced that Raytheon Co., based in Tucson, Arizona, received a USD 41 million modification to an existing AMRAAM production contract, taking the total value to over USD 2.5 billion. Additionally, the US Embassy in New Delhi released a statement on Friday that said, “The sustainment does not include an upgrade to any of Pakistan’s current capabilities.”

According to the original Department of War statement, the contract involves foreign military sales to several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Australia, Qatar, Oman, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Kuwait, Türkiye, and Pakistan, and is expected to be completed by May 2030.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  1. The contract involves foreign military sales to several countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany.
  2. US administration has clarified that this is a sustainment and spare parts contract and does not involve the provision of any new missiles or technological upgrades to Pakistan.
  3. It added that the sustainment work does not include an upgrade to any of Pakistan’s current capabilities.
  4. Reports of a new supply deal emerged weeks after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir met with US President Donald Trump in September.

While the announcement listed Pakistan among the participating countries, the US Embassy has now confirmed that the inclusion relates to ongoing sustainment support, not to new missile deliveries. Pakistan had previously purchased around 700 AMRAAMs in 2007 for its F-16 fleet, which was at that time the largest international order for the air-to-air missile system. Reports of a new supply deal emerged weeks after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir met with US President Donald Trump in September.

(With ANI Inputs)

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