By Arun Kumar,

Washington, Jan 21 (IANS) Pakistan is buying 500 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and 200 AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles from the US at a cost of $284 million to add more firepower to its air force.

Delivery of the AMRAAM missiles will start in 2008 and continue through 2011, Raytheon Company said announcing the first AMRAAM missile procurement by Pakistan - in what is its largest single international AMRAAM purchase.

Pakistan has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement that will augment its established inventory and provide the bulk of the air-to-air fire power of the Pakistan Air Force, the Massachusetts-based armament maker, which had a $21.9 billion sales in 2005, said.

AMRAAM is a joint US Air Force and Navy programme and sets the global beyond-visual-range standard. It incorporates the latest digital technology and microminiaturised solid-state electronics, making this remarkable weapon more reliable and maintainable, resulting in the highest dependability at the lowest cost of ownership.

Thirty-two countries have procured AMRAAM based on its unprecedented air combat flexibility. The AIM-9M Sidewinder missile is a combat-proven, all-aspect, infrared-guided, short-range air-to-air missile employed by more than 20 countries worldwide, it said.

"This is the largest single purchase of AMRAAM missiles in the history of the AMRAAM international programme," said Brock McCaman, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air-to-Air product line.

"The combat-proven 'one-two punch' of Raytheon's AMRAAM/Sidewinder technology will give the Pakistan Air Force the necessary firepower to accomplish vital air defence missions."