F-16 Thread

[Owais]

U.S. F-16 Sale to Pakistan Hits Snag in Congress

Jim Wolf, Reuters
Fri, 14 Jul 2006, 00:32


U.S. lawmakers, fearful of any warplane-technology leakage to China, are demandinmore safeguards for a $5 billion sale to Pakistan of F-16 fighter jets and related items, a key congressman said July 13.

"We have reason to be concerned that all security conditions be in place before we approve the sale," Rep. Tom Lantos, the top Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

On June 28, the Bush administration formally notified Congress of plans to sell Pakistan up to 36 F-16C/D Block 50/52 Falcon fighters built by Lockheed Martin Corp. in a deal worth up to $5 billion if all options are exercised.

Congress has the power to block such a sale by enacting a resolution of disapproval in both houses within 30 days of the notification date.
"We are dealing with a country that gave us A.Q. Kahn," said Lantos, referring to a Pakistani scientist who confessed in 2004 to peddling banned nuclear wares around the world for years despite international safeguards.

Pakistan says Kahn, who was pardoned by President Pervez Musharraf and has been under house arrest, acted independently and without state knowledge.

Lantos, of California, said he and Henry Hyde, the Illinois Republican who chairs the House panel, were pressing the State Department to build new safeguards into the deal.

He said he favored the sale once "all of the security provisions are in place." Under standard practices, a buyer of U.S. arms typically must agree to "end use monitoring" designed to make sure the technology is not shared illicitly.

Lantos made clear he was concerned that China, which has close military ties to Pakistan, might get access to the Block 50/52 -- the most modern F-16 flown by the United States. "That is the most obvious and most logical concern," he said.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, has scheduled a classified briefing Tuesday on the sale with Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kohler, head of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, according to Andy Fisher, a Lugar spokesman.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said "proliferation," illicit sharing of U.S. technology, had been taken into account before Congress was notified of the sale.

"This is the right proposal for Pakistan," he told a regular news briefing, adding the administration would continue to consult Congress closely on it.

Lantos spoke after what an aide said was a State Department request to postpone a committee hearing scheduled for Thursday on the proposed sale. "There is no reason to proceed with a public hearing when we have substantive security concerns with respect to the sale," Lantos said.

Hyde’s spokeswoman did not return a call seeking comment.
Lantos faulted the State Department for ignoring a traditional 20-day period for conferring with Congress on arms sales in addition to the 30 days during which a sale may be blocked. Congressional security concerns could have been eliminated during such "pre-notification" talks, he said.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan need to agree to this we dont need to transfer so we should agree as we need these plan right now.

Absolutely!

Wht u guys say will the congress clear the deal in near future?

Yes, as a matter of fact it will be approved within weeks once the safeguards have been guaranteed.
Pakistan has not asked for ToT on any of the listed systems in MDE, we're buying them on 'ready to use' base.

US' major concern is China, Pak's major ally. JDAM, AMRAAM 120C and other systems are too advanced and China will probably want to have a look at these systems in Pakistan.

 

[Neo]

WASHINGTON, July 13.

A key congressional panel on Thursday postponed a hearing to review the $5.1 billion US arms package offered to Pakistan.

The 50-member house committee on international relations was due to hear John Hillen, the State Department’s Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, on Thursday on the deal, which includes new and old F-16 jets and their weapon systems.

The Congress has 30 days to act on the deal which was notified by Pentagon on June 28. If the lawmakers do not raise objections within the stipulated period, the deal will be considered endorsed.

The office of the chairman of the committee, Republican Congressman Henry Hyde, announced that the hearing had been postponed ‘until further notice’ but gave no reason for the delay. The 18-member Senate foreign relations committee has not yet announced a hearing date.

Unless stopped by Congress by July 28, Pakistan will get 36 new F-16C/D fighter aircraft, 200 sidewinder missiles, 200 air-to-air missiles, 500 kits for ground-attack satellite-guided bombs and 36 advanced pilot helmets.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/14/top14.htm

 

[Neo]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]ISLAMABAD, July 17 (APP)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pakistan on Monday said it will continue to pursue "other options" besides acquiring a US$ 3 billion package of new and used F-16 aircrafts from the United States of America. "We have a strategic long-term relationship with the United States and it has assured us in this regard (provision of F-16s)," Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmud Ahmed told reporters at a press briefing here at the Air Headquarters.

Under the deal, Pakistan looks forward to getting 18 new F-16s C/D type of Block 52 category, with an option to buy another new 18 aircraft, 26 used besides upgrading 32 of its existing ones.

The Air Chief also allayed apprehensions of transfer of F-16s technology to a third country and said the Pakistan Air Force has always abided by terms of its contracts.

"There is no such thing as equipment getting out of the country...we can give all assurances they [USA] require."

The Air Chief added: "There shall be no transfer of technology to anybody as mandated in the contract and I hope they will not violate their terms given in the contract."

When asked whether there were any assurances that unlike the past the United States of America will keep its word, he said "usually there are no such guarantees, but we will keep our own safety in mind in future ".

Ahmed, who was recently promoted to head of country's Air Force and has already visited the United States and China, said the United States has repeatedly assured Pakistan of sticking to the deal.

However, he mentioned the experience of years when the country remained under sanctions and said "we have learned to stand on our own feet ... we have learned to survive".

The 26 used aircraft Pakistan is acquiring are the same for which Pakistan had paid US 685 million for the first of the 28 F-16 A/B type of the 71, the Air Chief added.

"Two of these are already in Pakistan and we paid a nominal amount of around US one million dollars," the
Air Chief said.

He said the new F-16s that Pakistan was acquiring have latest engines, avionics and radars and can carry more fuel, weapons and work in a networked environment, covering further distances.

"We are not throwing away country's hard-earned money on obsolete technology," he added. The new F-16s, he said, will take three years before delivered to Pakistan, once the agreement is signed, however the PAF will use the Sino- Pak joint venture of JF-17 Thunder as its backbone.

He said acquisition of 18 F-16s, along with their accessories will cost around US 2 billion dollars, while the upgradation of its 24 year-old 34 F-16s will cost another US 1 billion dollars, over a period of eight years.

The Air Chief said Pakistan was also acquiring Airborne Warning And Control Systems (AWACS), initiating an airborne refueling and had upgraded its air defence system to make it more lethal and responsive.

About the payments, he said Pakistan will have to initially make around 10 per cent of the total and will be able to get credit finance from the American credit institutions with options to pay back in 5 to 15 years.

Air Marshal Tanveer Ahmed said that despite the sanctions, the Pakistan Air Force had 32 of its F-16s available during the 2002 military standoff.
"If a situation arises, the PAF shall respond to the challenge and come up to expectations of the nation."

He said Pakistan believes that aggression does not pay and added the PAF despite being outnumbered has always retained its edge in technology, training and morale.

http://thepakistaninewspaper.com/news_detail.php?id=5956[/FONT]

 

[Neo]

ISLAMABAD: 18 Jul, 2006

Eighteen new F-16s that Pakistan hopes to get will cost $1-million a piece, which is less than what it paid for the first two the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has just acquired.

The News said that the US supplier has agreed to an easier payment schedule.

With the multi-role F-16s fleet, PAF will have a total strength of 78 aircrafts after the supply of 18 new and 26 used US Falcons in three years.

The Congressional approval and $ 3-billion Pakistan-US defence deal is all set to be finalised in the near future.

The News reported from Washington that the deal is to come up for consideration before the US Congress on Tuesday.

"There is no guarantee, but the US has given assurances to honour the new deal," Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmed, said on Monday.

The PAF chief said the new aircraft would we used "to deter aggression", although Pakistan survived even in the days of US sanctions and hostile posture of neighbouring India and its continued build up for more than ten months during 2002.

The air chief, however, admitted that the disparity in aircrafts vis-a-vis India would remain one to three but the morale, training and manpower gave an edge to the PAF.

"The F-16s were the major force behind deterring aggression, as they were kept fully operational and available throughout the critical period," said Mehmood Ahmed, who took over command of the potent force early this year.

Mehmood Ahmed said that Pakistan wanted 18 new F-16 C/D Block 52 after scaling down the number from 55 aircraft, with an option of another 18 Falcons along with 26 old F-16s of A/B plus the weapons and other hardware.

This will cost Pakistan around $ 2-billion. However, he said another $ 1- billion will be spent on the upgradation of existing F-16 fleet of 32 aircraft plus two used aircraft that arrived in the recent past.

"The new F-16s will arrive in Pakistan within three years from the date of signing of the contract and 26 used F-16s will be handed over to us within 15 to 18 months," said the air chief.

Pakistan was originally offered 70 plus F-16s but the package was scaled down due to last October's earthquake and finally the negotiations resulted in agreeing to have 18 new (with 18 optional) and 26 vintage F-16s to be decommissioned before being handed over to Pakistan.

This combination is considered as "the best, given the present scenario and the available opportunity," the PAF chief said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...how/1772457.cms

 

[Neo]

ISLAMABAD: 18 Jul, 2006

Eighteen new F-16s that Pakistan hopes to get will cost $1-million a piece, which is less than what it paid for the first two the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has just acquired.

The News said that the US supplier has agreed to an easier payment schedule.

This can't be true!! A typo mistake?? :redface:

 

[Neo]

WASHINGTON, July 18: President George Bush’s concept of ‘de-hyphenation’ plays a pivotal role in the new US approach towards South Asia. The Bush administration defines this ‘de-hyphenation’ as separating its relations with India from its ties with Pakistan and dealing with each country individually.

At a recent briefing on US policies for South and Central Asian regions, Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher explained this ‘de-hyphenation’ with practical examples. He strongly rejected India’s objections to a $5 billion arms package the United States is offering to Pakistan and Islamabad’s objections to a nuclear deal Washington is offering to New Delhi, making it clear that it will not allow one to influence its relations with the other.

“Our sale is based on what we think are legitimate needs of Pakistan, defensive purposes,” said Mr Boucher when asked to comment on India’s objections to the F-16 offer. “And we proceed on that basis, not on the basis of what other people think or don’t think about it,” he added.

Mr Boucher was equally forthright in rejecting the suggestion that Pakistan should get a similar nuclear deal that Washington is offering to New Delhi.

“I have not seen any proposal … to make a similar sale to another country along the lines of the one with India,” he said. “We certainly believe that the situation with India is unique. That’s the way we’ve approached this agreement, that’s the way we’ve pursued it.”

In the current US strategy for South and Central Asia, Pakistan continues to be a key ally in the war against terror. “No country has done more to fight Al Qaeda or has lost more people in doing so than Pakistan,” Mr Boucher declared.

Pakistan is also an essential part of a trade corridor that the US desires to see emerging, a corridor that could link three strategically important regions, Central and South Asia and the Middle East.

In his briefing, Mr Boucher mentioned at least two US-supported projects that seek to link Central Asia with South Asia.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/19/top3.htm

 

[Neo]

Congressional Research Service Raises Questions About F-16 Sales To Pakistan

Michael Fabey
07/18/2006 11:02:13 AM

http://www.aviationnow.com/media/images/x.gifA Congressional Research Service (CRS) report questions whether the Bush Administration's proposed $3 billion sale of 36 F-16 C/D Block 50/52 combat jets to Pakistan will help that country better battle terrorists or help solidify the American military aircraft manufacturing base as promised.
"The Block 50/52 variant that is being proposed for export is the most advanced version of the F-16 flown by U.S. military forces," writes CRS aviation analyst Christopher Bolkcom in his July 6 report, "Combat Aircraft Sales to South Asia: Potential Implications."
Bolkcom adds, "It incorporates advanced weapons and avionics for air-to-air combat that appear unnecessary for counterinsurgency operations. Less expensive and less sophisticated aircraft such as attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and combat search and rescue aircraft would appear to have greater utility in combating insurgents and other non-state actors than supersonic fighter aircraft."
What many analysts and regional leaders say, according to Bolkcom, is the planes are meant to deter India's military designs in the region. "The sale of 36 F-16s to Pakistan and the upgrade of existing F-16s would increase that country's number of modern combat aircraft but would still not bring it close to parity with India," Bolkcom reports. "If India were to add F-16s or F/A-18s to its inventory, the disparity in aviation capabilities between the two countries would grow even more."
India wants to replace 126 fighters and the F/A-18s are among the choices. Combat jet sales to either or both countries raise questions for Congress, which has until the end of the month to decide on whether to approve the Pakistan buy. It's a significant policy decision, Bolkcom reports.
"Questions remain about the potential domestic U.S. benefit from these prospective sales. While preserving U.S. jobs appears clearly beneficial, the number of jobs preserved and the value of those jobs remains unclear," Bolkcom said.
"India would likely demand that the majority of aircraft be produced in India. This would increase jobs in India and reduce jobs in the United States. Also, some say not all jobs are equal in terms of their benefit to the U.S. industrial base. Producing for India and Pakistan the exact same aircraft that is currently being produced in the United States would preserve assembly line-type jobs. Many argue this would do little to advance innovation or make U.S. industry more competitive."

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aerospacedaily_story.jsp?id=news/CONG07186.xml

 

[Neo]

Krishnaswami, Washington: Asking the Bush Administration to scrap the sale of F-16s to Pakistan, a prominent lawmaker here has said the acquisition of the US-made fighter jets plus the plutonium reactor being built by Islamabad equals a "catastrophe." "At any time this news (about Pakistan building a plutonium reactor at its Khushab nuclear plant) would be unwelcome," Gary Ackerman, the Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said in a "Dear Colleague" letter.

The import of the story is "truly alarming" in the context of a pending sale by US of F-16 fighter-bombers, he said pointing to 'The Washington Post' piece about the dramatic expansion in Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme.

Despite assurances by the Bush Administration that these aircraft would not be misused or their technology transferred to other countries like China, "once these planes have been delivered to Pakistan, there is, in fact, absolutely nothing we can do to prevent misuse," the New York Democrat said in his letter.

"Based on history and strategic analysis, there is every reason to believe the contrary that these F-16s will be drafted for use as nuclear weapons delivery vehicles, and that they will be picked apart by potential adversaries to answer questions about our aviation capabilities." "Help stop a catastrophe before it happens... And stop the sale of F-16s to Pakistan" the lawmaker, also a senior member in the House International Relations Committee, said.

http://www.newkerala.com/news3.php?action=fullnews&id=28015

 

[Neo]

Man, this is getting embarissing! :redface:

Both Pentagon and Delhi have been well aware of the existance of Khushab site, linking it to F-16 deal is not going to make any difference.

 

[melb4aust]

Man, this is getting embarissing! :redface:

Both Pentagon and Delhi have been well aware of the existance of Khushab site, linking it to F-16 deal is not going to make any difference.

They will try everything to stop that deal no matter what. They are just trying to find different excuses and relating them to the F-16 deal. I am not sure, why are they so much afraid of those F-16's?

 

[ashdoc]

Man, this is getting embarissing! :redface:

Both Pentagon and Delhi have been well aware of the existance of Khushab site, linking it to F-16 deal is not going to make any difference.

the new f-16s will have better electronic warfare systems than previous f-16s to evade indian defences and carry nuclear bombs.

that does not mean they cant be stopped , but india has a right to protest against pakistan's aquisition of these planes.