(WAPA) - Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will receive 18 F-16 block 52 aircraft from Lockheed Martin later this month as part of a contract for the sale of 36 F-16C/D block 50/52 aircraft announced in June 2005. Lockheed Martin had been awarded a contract for 12 F-16C and six F-16D block 52 aircraft in December 2006.
Pakistan has already received block 52 versions of the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, which includes day-night, all-weather and precision-attack capabilities. The compact multi-role, single-engine F-16 Fighting Falcon plane has a high level of manoeuvrability, a top speed of 2,124km/h; it can also detect planes flying at very low altitudes. The F-16 block 52 aircraft provides additional fuel and payload capacity and improved avionics and sensors.
The AN/APG-68 radar-equipped F-16 provides the pilot with separate air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, including long-range, all-aspect detection and tracking, simultaneous multiple-target tracking and high-resolution ground mapping. The F-16 is widely deployed by the air forces of Israel, Egypt, Iraq, New Zealand, South Korea, Chile, Poland, UAE, Bahrain, Greece and Singapore.
The US is also working with the PAF to modernise 45 F-16s from its existing fighter fleet through the US foreign military financing security assistance programme. (Avionews)
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