'False Media Reports': US Embassy Says It Isn't Delivering New AMRAAM to Pakistan
New Delhi: The US embassy in India said today that contrary to what it says are "false media reports," no part of its recent list of contract announcements was for deliveries of new Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Pakistan. However, its official contracts list has been edited since the initial announcement.
Several news outlets had reported that Pakistan is likely to receive the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the US, amidst improvement in ties between the two countries.
Today (October 10), the US embassy issued a statement saying that the September 30, 2025, list of standard contract announcements released by the US Department of War referred to an amendment to an existing foreign military sales contracts for sustainment and spares for several countries, including Pakistan.
"The Administration would like to emphasize 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. The sustainment does not include an upgrade to any of Pakistan’s current capabilities," it added.
The US defence department's September 30 contract had said that the American defence firm Raytheon would supply Pakistan with AMRAAM:
"Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $41,681,329 firm-fixed-price modification (P00026) to a previously awarded contract (FA8675-23-C-0037) for Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles C8 and D3 variants and the production thereof. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $2,512,389,558 from $2,470,708,229."
Dawn, the newspaper in Pakistan, had reported that the initial May 7 contract for the AMRAAM deal had not included Pakistan among the list of buyers for the missile. "The same missiles were reportedly used in February 2019, when the PAF conducted Operation Swift Retort and shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) jets that had intruded into Pakistani airspace over Kashmir," the report said.
But the operative portion in the US defence department's contracts page was later modified to say:
"Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $41,681,329 firm-fixed-price modification (P00026) to a previously awarded contract (FA8675-23-C-0037) for Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles variants and the production and sustainment thereof. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $2,512,389,558 from $2,470,708,229."
Thus, the US is effectively denying the upgradation of missiles to Pakistan and is now claiming that it is only going to be aiding "sustainment" of existing supplies.
India has been uncomfortable over the US’s growing closeness with Pakistan – which already enjoys China’s support when it comes to defence supplies.
Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, left, and Gen. Syed Asim Munir wait for their meeting with President Donald Trump, in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington. Gor and Rigas will meet with Indian government counterparts to discuss what the US has described as a wide range of bilateral issues.
However, Gor is not taking formal charge of the embassy. As per diplomatic sources, he will be handing over his official credentials to the Indian government and his move to New Delhi will happen at a later still-to-be-determined date.
This article went live on October tenth, two thousand twenty five, at twenty-eight minutes past seven in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
