TomCat111
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Nuclear Delivery System?
Pakistan could use the F-16 bombers to drop nuclear weapons on visually acquired targets by improvising the necessary electronic wiring which is omitted from these export models. Although the Pakistan Air Force F-16 and Mirage 5 aircraft are probably of delivering nuclear weapons, the liquid-fuel Ghauri missile and the solid-fuel Shaheen 1 and 2 missiles are more likely choices.
According to a 1989 report by the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), relevant tests had already been successfully concluded. The BND reported to the Chancellor's Office that, using an F-16 model, the Pakistanis had made wind tunnel tests and designed the shell of the bomb in a way that allowed them to install it underneath the wings. At the same time, the detonating mechanism was improved, so that the weapons can be used. . . According to the BND report, the Pakistanis long ago found out how to program the F-16 on-board computer to carry out the relevant flight maneuvers in dropping the bomb. According to the report from Pullach [BND headquarters], they also know how to make the electronic contact between the aircraft and the bomb.
Deptuy Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Hughes, in testimony before House Subcommittee, 2 August 1989, said: "In order to deliver a nuclear device with any reasonable degree of accuracy and safety, it first would be necessary to replace the entire wiring package in the aircraft. In addition to building a weapons carriage mount, one would also have to re-do the fire control computer, the stores management system, and mission computer software to allow the weapon to be dopped accurately and to redistribute weight and balance after release. We believe this capability far exceeds the state of the art in Pakisan and could only be accomplished with a major release of data and industrial equipment from the U.S. . . ."
Western intelligence sources were cited in U.S. News & World Report, 12 February 1990: "The sources say Pakistan, in violation of agreements with Washington, is busily converting U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter planes--60 more are scheduled to be sent this year--into potential nuclear-weapons carriers by outfitting them with special structures attached to the plane's underwing carriage. The structure allows the mounting of a dummy under one wing of the F-16 to balance the weight of the bomb under the other wing."
Robert Gates, CIA Director, in testimony Before Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, 15 January 1992: [Sen. Glenn]--`How about delivery systems? Is there any evidence that Pakistan converted F-16s for possible nuclear delivery use? [Gates]--`We know that they are--or we have information that suggests that they're clearly interested in enhancing the ability of the F-16 to deliver weapons safely. But we don't really have--they don't require those changes, I don't think, to deliver a weapon. We could perhaps provide some additional detail in a classified manner.'
William T. Pendley, Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense/ISA, in a Letter to Sen. Glenn on 13 April 1993 stated: `Pakistan could . . . theoretically attach a [nuclear] weapon and deliver it to a target with their F-16s, or any other aircraft in their inventory, if arming and fuzing procedures were accomplished before takeoff, and safety and placement accuracy were not considered.'
Pakistan could use the F-16 bombers to drop nuclear weapons on visually acquired targets by improvising the necessary electronic wiring which is omitted from these export models. Although the Pakistan Air Force F-16 and Mirage 5 aircraft are probably of delivering nuclear weapons, the liquid-fuel Ghauri missile and the solid-fuel Shaheen 1 and 2 missiles are more likely choices.
According to a 1989 report by the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), relevant tests had already been successfully concluded. The BND reported to the Chancellor's Office that, using an F-16 model, the Pakistanis had made wind tunnel tests and designed the shell of the bomb in a way that allowed them to install it underneath the wings. At the same time, the detonating mechanism was improved, so that the weapons can be used. . . According to the BND report, the Pakistanis long ago found out how to program the F-16 on-board computer to carry out the relevant flight maneuvers in dropping the bomb. According to the report from Pullach [BND headquarters], they also know how to make the electronic contact between the aircraft and the bomb.
Deptuy Assistant Secretary of Defense Arthur Hughes, in testimony before House Subcommittee, 2 August 1989, said: "In order to deliver a nuclear device with any reasonable degree of accuracy and safety, it first would be necessary to replace the entire wiring package in the aircraft. In addition to building a weapons carriage mount, one would also have to re-do the fire control computer, the stores management system, and mission computer software to allow the weapon to be dopped accurately and to redistribute weight and balance after release. We believe this capability far exceeds the state of the art in Pakisan and could only be accomplished with a major release of data and industrial equipment from the U.S. . . ."
Western intelligence sources were cited in U.S. News & World Report, 12 February 1990: "The sources say Pakistan, in violation of agreements with Washington, is busily converting U.S.-supplied F-16 fighter planes--60 more are scheduled to be sent this year--into potential nuclear-weapons carriers by outfitting them with special structures attached to the plane's underwing carriage. The structure allows the mounting of a dummy under one wing of the F-16 to balance the weight of the bomb under the other wing."
Robert Gates, CIA Director, in testimony Before Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, 15 January 1992: [Sen. Glenn]--`How about delivery systems? Is there any evidence that Pakistan converted F-16s for possible nuclear delivery use? [Gates]--`We know that they are--or we have information that suggests that they're clearly interested in enhancing the ability of the F-16 to deliver weapons safely. But we don't really have--they don't require those changes, I don't think, to deliver a weapon. We could perhaps provide some additional detail in a classified manner.'
William T. Pendley, Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense/ISA, in a Letter to Sen. Glenn on 13 April 1993 stated: `Pakistan could . . . theoretically attach a [nuclear] weapon and deliver it to a target with their F-16s, or any other aircraft in their inventory, if arming and fuzing procedures were accomplished before takeoff, and safety and placement accuracy were not considered.'
, though with India its a different case, always a different case.
