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U.S. to Help Upgrade Pakistan Fighter Fleet
By OLIVIER KNOX, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 24 Jul 14:18 EDT (18:18 GMT)
WASHINGTON - The White House confirmed on July 24 that it planned to shift $230 million from counter-terrorism programs to aid for Pakistan to upgrade Islamabad's aging F-16 fighter jets.
The news came as U.S. President George W. Bush prepared to host Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on July 28 for talks set to focus on cooperation to fight Taliban and al-Qaeda extremists and Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said a New York Times article detailing the shift was "accurate" but rejected criticisms that Pakistan chiefly views the jets through the lens of its nuclear rivalry with neighbor India.
"The F-16s that they have are used in counterterrorism operations. We made them available to the Pakistanis and they need to be maintained," Perino told reporters.
Pakistan's new government "is facing a lot of pressure from a severe fiscal situation" stemming partly from soaring food and energy costs, and "they need assistance from the United States," the spokeswoman said.
But the Times reported that some U.S. lawmakers have greeted the proposed shift with anger, saying that Pakistan does not use its F-16s in support of the campaign against fighters in its remote tribal areas out of a fear that civilian casualties could fuel support for the extremists.
Asked what the U.S. would get in return for the move, Perino replied: "The F-16s are used in their counter-terrorism operations, so we get support in our national security efforts."
The package for the fighters would run about two-thirds of the $300 million that Pakistan will get this year in U.S. aid for military equipment and training, the Times said.
In 2007, U.S. lawmakers specified that the monies should to go to law enforcement or counter-terrorism.
The daily cited unnamed US State Department officials as saying that the upgrades would sharpen the fighters' ability to carry out accurate air strikes, reducing civilian casualties.
The move came with Gilani expected to face searching questions about his fledgling government's commitment to battling Islamist extremists, particularly in the remote tribal areas along Afghanistan's border, where terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden is thought to be hiding.
Bush said earlier this month that he was "troubled" by the movement of extremists from Pakistan to Afghanistan and would discuss the threat with Gilani when he visits.
U.S. military commanders have reported a 40 percent rise in militant attacks on parts of eastern Afghanistan since Pakistan's new government launched peace talks with Taliban rebels in the tribal belt.
Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress on July 15 proposing non-military aid to Pakistan be tripled to $7.5 billion over five years, but linking security aid to counter-terrorism performance.
Washington has already pledged $750 million in development aid to the tribal areas over the next five years, in addition to the $10 billion in military aid it has channeled to Islamabad since 2001.
U.S. to Help Upgrade Pakistan Fighter Fleet - Defense News
By OLIVIER KNOX, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 24 Jul 14:18 EDT (18:18 GMT)
WASHINGTON - The White House confirmed on July 24 that it planned to shift $230 million from counter-terrorism programs to aid for Pakistan to upgrade Islamabad's aging F-16 fighter jets.
The news came as U.S. President George W. Bush prepared to host Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on July 28 for talks set to focus on cooperation to fight Taliban and al-Qaeda extremists and Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said a New York Times article detailing the shift was "accurate" but rejected criticisms that Pakistan chiefly views the jets through the lens of its nuclear rivalry with neighbor India.
"The F-16s that they have are used in counterterrorism operations. We made them available to the Pakistanis and they need to be maintained," Perino told reporters.
Pakistan's new government "is facing a lot of pressure from a severe fiscal situation" stemming partly from soaring food and energy costs, and "they need assistance from the United States," the spokeswoman said.
But the Times reported that some U.S. lawmakers have greeted the proposed shift with anger, saying that Pakistan does not use its F-16s in support of the campaign against fighters in its remote tribal areas out of a fear that civilian casualties could fuel support for the extremists.
Asked what the U.S. would get in return for the move, Perino replied: "The F-16s are used in their counter-terrorism operations, so we get support in our national security efforts."
The package for the fighters would run about two-thirds of the $300 million that Pakistan will get this year in U.S. aid for military equipment and training, the Times said.
In 2007, U.S. lawmakers specified that the monies should to go to law enforcement or counter-terrorism.
The daily cited unnamed US State Department officials as saying that the upgrades would sharpen the fighters' ability to carry out accurate air strikes, reducing civilian casualties.
The move came with Gilani expected to face searching questions about his fledgling government's commitment to battling Islamist extremists, particularly in the remote tribal areas along Afghanistan's border, where terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden is thought to be hiding.
Bush said earlier this month that he was "troubled" by the movement of extremists from Pakistan to Afghanistan and would discuss the threat with Gilani when he visits.
U.S. military commanders have reported a 40 percent rise in militant attacks on parts of eastern Afghanistan since Pakistan's new government launched peace talks with Taliban rebels in the tribal belt.
Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress on July 15 proposing non-military aid to Pakistan be tripled to $7.5 billion over five years, but linking security aid to counter-terrorism performance.
Washington has already pledged $750 million in development aid to the tribal areas over the next five years, in addition to the $10 billion in military aid it has channeled to Islamabad since 2001.
U.S. to Help Upgrade Pakistan Fighter Fleet - Defense News
fatman17
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these missiles are launched sans the war-head? right!
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US Wants to Upgrade Pakistans F-16s
July 24, 2008
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The State Department wants to use about two-thirds of its proposed military equipment aid for Pakistan's anti-terrorism programs to help the key U.S. ally upgrade its aging fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter planes. The planes traditionally have not been used in anti-terrorism operations, and Pakistan sees the planes as a chit in its arms race against rival India. Congress must approve the switch, which was requested days before Pakistan's new prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, is due to meet President Bush at the White House.
The Bush administration is feeling its way in its dealings with Pakistan's new leaders, who are friendly to the U.S. but far less closely allied than the formerly supreme leader, President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf retains his post but with less authority. The prime minister's government has struck proposed partnerships with tribal leaders in the volatile terror-breeding ground along the Afghan border that make U.S. officials nervous. The request to Congress late last week would allow the key U.S. ally to purchase equipment to upgrade existing planes so that they have similar capabilities to equipment the Bush administration is already selling to Pakistan. The $226 million would come from an allotment already approved for other Pakistan anti-terror operations.
The previous request would have upgraded P3-C aircraft, which often are used in surveillance operations, and modernize AH-IF Cobra helicopters. The helicopter work still would be done using different funding, a State Department official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because discussions with Congress are still preliminary.
Switching the money to fix up F-16s would represent a change in the purpose for more than two-thirds of the $300 million that Pakistan will receive this year in U.S. military underwriting for Pakistan's equipment and training. Congress has required that the training and equipment money be spent for law enforcement or to fight terrorism. F-16s are something of a badge of honor for Pakistan, and a sore point in the history of the U.S. relations with the Muslim nation. The Bush administration approved the sale of 18 new jets last year. The package included an option for Pakistan to order more jets and to get used aircraft refurbished.
Pakistan signed a deal with Washington to buy the F-16s in the late 1980s, but the agreement was scrapped in the 1990s when the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Islamabad over its nuclear weapons program.
Although Washington lifted the sanctions because of Islamabad's support for the U.S. war on terror, the sale of the F-16s had remained on hold and some lawmakers have continued to criticize the deal, arguing the planes are more likely to be used in a war with India than against terrorists.
U.S. assistance and other payments to Pakistan have totaled $9.6 billion in the six budget years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, according to the State Department.
The largest payout each year is for what the Bush administration calls "reimbursements" for Pakistan's help in fighting terrorism. Under that program, Pakistan submits claims - such as its costs for providing observations posts along the Afghan border or its costs for taking part in joint operations with the U.S. against al-Qaida.
The reimbursements amount to some $80 million a month or nearly $1 billion a year.
On top of those payments, the U.S. also gives Pakistan direct aid for humanitarian programs, economic development, military needs and so on - well over $700 million in each of the last two years. © Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
July 24, 2008
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - The State Department wants to use about two-thirds of its proposed military equipment aid for Pakistan's anti-terrorism programs to help the key U.S. ally upgrade its aging fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter planes. The planes traditionally have not been used in anti-terrorism operations, and Pakistan sees the planes as a chit in its arms race against rival India. Congress must approve the switch, which was requested days before Pakistan's new prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, is due to meet President Bush at the White House.
The Bush administration is feeling its way in its dealings with Pakistan's new leaders, who are friendly to the U.S. but far less closely allied than the formerly supreme leader, President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf retains his post but with less authority. The prime minister's government has struck proposed partnerships with tribal leaders in the volatile terror-breeding ground along the Afghan border that make U.S. officials nervous. The request to Congress late last week would allow the key U.S. ally to purchase equipment to upgrade existing planes so that they have similar capabilities to equipment the Bush administration is already selling to Pakistan. The $226 million would come from an allotment already approved for other Pakistan anti-terror operations.
The previous request would have upgraded P3-C aircraft, which often are used in surveillance operations, and modernize AH-IF Cobra helicopters. The helicopter work still would be done using different funding, a State Department official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because discussions with Congress are still preliminary.
Switching the money to fix up F-16s would represent a change in the purpose for more than two-thirds of the $300 million that Pakistan will receive this year in U.S. military underwriting for Pakistan's equipment and training. Congress has required that the training and equipment money be spent for law enforcement or to fight terrorism. F-16s are something of a badge of honor for Pakistan, and a sore point in the history of the U.S. relations with the Muslim nation. The Bush administration approved the sale of 18 new jets last year. The package included an option for Pakistan to order more jets and to get used aircraft refurbished.
Pakistan signed a deal with Washington to buy the F-16s in the late 1980s, but the agreement was scrapped in the 1990s when the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Islamabad over its nuclear weapons program.
Although Washington lifted the sanctions because of Islamabad's support for the U.S. war on terror, the sale of the F-16s had remained on hold and some lawmakers have continued to criticize the deal, arguing the planes are more likely to be used in a war with India than against terrorists.
U.S. assistance and other payments to Pakistan have totaled $9.6 billion in the six budget years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, according to the State Department.
The largest payout each year is for what the Bush administration calls "reimbursements" for Pakistan's help in fighting terrorism. Under that program, Pakistan submits claims - such as its costs for providing observations posts along the Afghan border or its costs for taking part in joint operations with the U.S. against al-Qaida.
The reimbursements amount to some $80 million a month or nearly $1 billion a year.
On top of those payments, the U.S. also gives Pakistan direct aid for humanitarian programs, economic development, military needs and so on - well over $700 million in each of the last two years. © Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
US plan to upgrade Pakistan’s F-16s worries India
* Indian official says Islamabad could use F-16s against New Delhi
NEW DELHI: The Indian defence establishment is “concerned” by the United States’ decision to divert $230 million in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programmes to upgrading its F-16 fighter jets.
“Acquisition of new airborne capabilities by Pakistan is definitely a matter of concern for India since it’s always primarily directed at us. If the US thinks Pakistan will only use its upgraded F-16s for counter-terrorism operations, it is sadly mistaken,” Times of India quoted a top Indian defence official as saying on condition of anonymity.
India’s Western Air Command (WAC) chief Air Marshal PK Barbora, in turn, said, “Every country does what it thinks is needed for its defence requirements. The question is what is going to be given to Pakistan with the F-16 upgrade programme.”
The Bush administration says Pakistan’s F-16s will be upgraded with advanced targeting, precision-guided munitions and radar systems to improve their capability to attack terrorist targets along the volatile Afghan border.
This upgrade programme of 30 of the original 40 F-16s acquired by Pakistan between 1983 and 1987 comes after Washington also agreed to sell Islamabad 18 to 25 new F-16 variants armed with a wide array of advanced missiles.
“Moreover, Pakistan will begin inducting the first lot of the planned 250 JF-17 ‘Thunder’ fighters from China by the end of 2008. We obviously have to keep a close watch on this. Fighters are weapons of war, not counter-terrorism,” said another Indian officer.
But even as the Indian Air Force (IAF) grapples with a steady downturn in the number of fighter squadrons - down to just 32 from the ‘sanctioned strength’ of 39.5 - it is “not too worried” at the developments. “We have our own plans of new acquisitions and upgrades of existing fleets to boost our defence preparedness,” said Barbora, whose command is primarily responsible for guarding the skies on the entire western front.
Sources said plans for faster induction of 230 Sukhoi-30MKIs contracted from Russia in deals worth around $8.5 billion are currently under way. They said for instance, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was working towards completing its licensed production of 140 Sukhois by 2013-14 instead of 2017-18 as previously planned.
Sources said India planned to upgrade 125 MiG-21 ‘Bisons’ and around 100 MiG-27s and Jaguars with new weapons and avionics packages. They said India had also signed a $964 million deal with Russia to refit its 63 MiG-29s, adding that a similar deal was in the pipeline with France for IAF’s 51 Mirage-2000s. online
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
* Indian official says Islamabad could use F-16s against New Delhi
NEW DELHI: The Indian defence establishment is “concerned” by the United States’ decision to divert $230 million in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programmes to upgrading its F-16 fighter jets.
“Acquisition of new airborne capabilities by Pakistan is definitely a matter of concern for India since it’s always primarily directed at us. If the US thinks Pakistan will only use its upgraded F-16s for counter-terrorism operations, it is sadly mistaken,” Times of India quoted a top Indian defence official as saying on condition of anonymity.
India’s Western Air Command (WAC) chief Air Marshal PK Barbora, in turn, said, “Every country does what it thinks is needed for its defence requirements. The question is what is going to be given to Pakistan with the F-16 upgrade programme.”
The Bush administration says Pakistan’s F-16s will be upgraded with advanced targeting, precision-guided munitions and radar systems to improve their capability to attack terrorist targets along the volatile Afghan border.
This upgrade programme of 30 of the original 40 F-16s acquired by Pakistan between 1983 and 1987 comes after Washington also agreed to sell Islamabad 18 to 25 new F-16 variants armed with a wide array of advanced missiles.
“Moreover, Pakistan will begin inducting the first lot of the planned 250 JF-17 ‘Thunder’ fighters from China by the end of 2008. We obviously have to keep a close watch on this. Fighters are weapons of war, not counter-terrorism,” said another Indian officer.
But even as the Indian Air Force (IAF) grapples with a steady downturn in the number of fighter squadrons - down to just 32 from the ‘sanctioned strength’ of 39.5 - it is “not too worried” at the developments. “We have our own plans of new acquisitions and upgrades of existing fleets to boost our defence preparedness,” said Barbora, whose command is primarily responsible for guarding the skies on the entire western front.
Sources said plans for faster induction of 230 Sukhoi-30MKIs contracted from Russia in deals worth around $8.5 billion are currently under way. They said for instance, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd was working towards completing its licensed production of 140 Sukhois by 2013-14 instead of 2017-18 as previously planned.
Sources said India planned to upgrade 125 MiG-21 ‘Bisons’ and around 100 MiG-27s and Jaguars with new weapons and avionics packages. They said India had also signed a $964 million deal with Russia to refit its 63 MiG-29s, adding that a similar deal was in the pipeline with France for IAF’s 51 Mirage-2000s. online
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
Damned if we fight WoT damned if we don't...somebody should make up his mind!
PAF has operated F-16's for more than quarter of a century and now we're going to use it against New Delhi? Even if we do, with an airforce three times bigger and better equipped than PAF what does she have to fear?
Isn't MKI devine like we've been educated so many times?
Everything that we 'think is needed' genius!
Forgot to mention HMS and possibly AESA.
So India is preparing for war with aquisition of 230 Flankers and another 126 MRCA's?
So whats that fuzz about? Ole bad habbit of playing cry baby?
So how's this going to affect regional balance which's already in favor of India?
I'd say India should quit to act like a cry baby and have little more faith in her own defence machinery. You can't stop us from buying from Internatioal market anymore...get over it!
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Myth_buster_1
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CrybabyNEWS
Washington, July 26: The Americans have put a price of $305 million on Pakistan for withdrawing its objections to the smooth passage of the India-specific safeguards agreement by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on August 1.
US President George W. Bush will gently nudge Pakistans Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the White House on Monday not to be intransigent at the IAEA on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
But after feeding him lunch, Bush will send Gilani to Vice-President Dick Cheney, the administrations bouncer, who will tell the visiting Prime Minister unequivocally that the US does not appreciate Islamabad standing in the way of the operationalisation of the nuclear deal with India at the IAEA.
Bush will use kid gloves in dealing with Gilani, but Cheney, who has established a reputation for his tough ways and getting things done, will be as plain and rough with Gilani as he needs to be, according to sources which are familiar with the deliberations of a new co-ordinating committee which has been created within the Bush administration to fast track the nuclear deal.
By the time Gilani gets to see Cheney in the afternoon, the White House would have conveyed Gilanis reaction to Bushs kid glove treatment in the morning to the Vice-Presidents office. Cheney will then know how much his screws on the Pakistan Prime Minister have to be tightened.
In the run up to Gilanis visit, the Bush administration has decided to transfer about $230 million that it has already allotted for counter-terrorism projects in Pakistan to its militarys pet project of upgrading its F-16 aircraft that are not used against terrorists but can target India in the event of a war.
The US state departments acting deputy spokesperson, Gonzalo Gallegos, justified the transfer on the ground that the Pakistani government came to us, asked us if we could assist them, and we decided that this would be a good option for them. It would help to relieve the government, allow them to use that amount of funds for different projects of their own while providing an update that had already been that we had already approved.
These funds represent about two-thirds of the entire money that Pakistan will receive this year in US military financing for equipment and training.
Gallegos said: Basically, what we did was we shifted funds from one set of anti-terrorism projects, one set of airframes, to a different set.
But that is unlikely to sit well with the Democratic presidential aspirant Barack Obama, who will meet Gilani on Tuesday. Obama last fortnight outlined his skeleton plans for Pakistan if he is elected President and those plans focus on social development and democracy instead of beefing up Islamabads offensive capabilities against India.
In addition, anticipating the UPA governments forward movement on the nuclear deal, the US recently offered Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites worth $75 million for enhancing the capabilities of the existing F-16 fleet of the Pakistan Air Force.
The new total of $305 million for Pakistani F-16s, the militarys prestige toys, is being described in private conversations on Capitol Hill as a part of the Bush administrations bribe for the army general headquarters in Rawalpindi to toe the White House timetable on the nuclear deal with India.
In addition, less than four weeks ago, the US delivered four new F-16B aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force at Mushaf Air Base. The Pentagon pointed out in a press release that the F-16s represent a symbol of national pride for Pakistan.
The US ambassador to India, David Mulford, who attended a meeting of the administrations newly created co-ordination committee for the deal on Monday, significantly told reporters afterwards that Pakistans objections in Vienna represent an issue that has to be addressed and that we will talk to Pakistan.
He added, ominously, that Washington hopes that they will see things in the right light and be co-operative.
Washington, July 26: The Americans have put a price of $305 million on Pakistan for withdrawing its objections to the smooth passage of the India-specific safeguards agreement by the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on August 1.
US President George W. Bush will gently nudge Pakistans Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the White House on Monday not to be intransigent at the IAEA on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
But after feeding him lunch, Bush will send Gilani to Vice-President Dick Cheney, the administrations bouncer, who will tell the visiting Prime Minister unequivocally that the US does not appreciate Islamabad standing in the way of the operationalisation of the nuclear deal with India at the IAEA.
Bush will use kid gloves in dealing with Gilani, but Cheney, who has established a reputation for his tough ways and getting things done, will be as plain and rough with Gilani as he needs to be, according to sources which are familiar with the deliberations of a new co-ordinating committee which has been created within the Bush administration to fast track the nuclear deal.
By the time Gilani gets to see Cheney in the afternoon, the White House would have conveyed Gilanis reaction to Bushs kid glove treatment in the morning to the Vice-Presidents office. Cheney will then know how much his screws on the Pakistan Prime Minister have to be tightened.
In the run up to Gilanis visit, the Bush administration has decided to transfer about $230 million that it has already allotted for counter-terrorism projects in Pakistan to its militarys pet project of upgrading its F-16 aircraft that are not used against terrorists but can target India in the event of a war.
The US state departments acting deputy spokesperson, Gonzalo Gallegos, justified the transfer on the ground that the Pakistani government came to us, asked us if we could assist them, and we decided that this would be a good option for them. It would help to relieve the government, allow them to use that amount of funds for different projects of their own while providing an update that had already been that we had already approved.
These funds represent about two-thirds of the entire money that Pakistan will receive this year in US military financing for equipment and training.
Gallegos said: Basically, what we did was we shifted funds from one set of anti-terrorism projects, one set of airframes, to a different set.
But that is unlikely to sit well with the Democratic presidential aspirant Barack Obama, who will meet Gilani on Tuesday. Obama last fortnight outlined his skeleton plans for Pakistan if he is elected President and those plans focus on social development and democracy instead of beefing up Islamabads offensive capabilities against India.
In addition, anticipating the UPA governments forward movement on the nuclear deal, the US recently offered Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites worth $75 million for enhancing the capabilities of the existing F-16 fleet of the Pakistan Air Force.
The new total of $305 million for Pakistani F-16s, the militarys prestige toys, is being described in private conversations on Capitol Hill as a part of the Bush administrations bribe for the army general headquarters in Rawalpindi to toe the White House timetable on the nuclear deal with India.
In addition, less than four weeks ago, the US delivered four new F-16B aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force at Mushaf Air Base. The Pentagon pointed out in a press release that the F-16s represent a symbol of national pride for Pakistan.
The US ambassador to India, David Mulford, who attended a meeting of the administrations newly created co-ordination committee for the deal on Monday, significantly told reporters afterwards that Pakistans objections in Vienna represent an issue that has to be addressed and that we will talk to Pakistan.
He added, ominously, that Washington hopes that they will see things in the right light and be co-operative.
newbieNo sir. This is the real thing during the firepower display. If I recall correctly, during this particular firing camp, every fighter aircraft in the PAF inventory carried out live firing of in service AAMs.
IceCold
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Have personally serious doubts that the PM will stand up to the occasion and will remain firm on the issue. If he can unilaterally decrease the defense budget, what else can we expect of him, surely he will have 100 excuses up his sleeves to convince our uneducated bunch of morons that what he did was in the favor of the country and we want good relations with that country.
ejaz007
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US delivers four F-16s to Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: United States Central Command Acting Commander Lt Gen Martin E Dempsey on Monday handed over four F-16 jet aircraft to Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed in a ceremony at the Pakistan Air Force Base Mushaf, Sargodha.
With the handing over of the four jets, the delivery of 14 upgraded F-16 aircraft has been completed. Earlier the US had agreed to give Pakistan these aircrafts under the Foreign Military Sales Programme, which was singed in 2005.
The air chief said the Pakistan Air Force would remain vigilant for the defence of the nation by ensuring the highest level of combat readiness.
The US embassy said in a statement that the US government provided the aircraft to Pakistan at no cost except for transportation expenses.
The four aircraft presented on Monday are valued at approximately $6.4 million each, it said.
The PAF said the newly delivered aircraft would significantly augment its operational and combat capabilities.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
This means PAF presently has 46 F-16's, roughly 4 squadrons.
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: United States Central Command Acting Commander Lt Gen Martin E Dempsey on Monday handed over four F-16 jet aircraft to Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed in a ceremony at the Pakistan Air Force Base Mushaf, Sargodha.
With the handing over of the four jets, the delivery of 14 upgraded F-16 aircraft has been completed. Earlier the US had agreed to give Pakistan these aircrafts under the Foreign Military Sales Programme, which was singed in 2005.
The air chief said the Pakistan Air Force would remain vigilant for the defence of the nation by ensuring the highest level of combat readiness.
The US embassy said in a statement that the US government provided the aircraft to Pakistan at no cost except for transportation expenses.
The four aircraft presented on Monday are valued at approximately $6.4 million each, it said.
The PAF said the newly delivered aircraft would significantly augment its operational and combat capabilities.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
This means PAF presently has 46 F-16's, roughly 4 squadrons.
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