Pakistan may study other fighter options as US asks Pakistan to make full payment for F-16 purchase

[kabooter_maila]

Washington: The Obama administration has asked Pakistan to "put forward" its "national funds" to buy the eight F-16 fighter jets as some top American Senators have put a hold on use of the US tax payers' money for this purpose.

"While Congress has approved the sale, key members have made clear that they object to using FMF (foreign military financing) to support it. Given Congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose," US State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday.

Kirby, however, did not say when this decision was taken and when was it communicated to Pakistan.

On 11 February, the State Department had informed the Congress about its determination for selling eight the fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of USD 700 million. The move was opposed by the Indian government as it summoned the US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, to lodge its protest.

Here in the US, top American lawmakers led by Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, put a hold on the sale arguing that it would not let the Obama administration use tax payers' money for sale of the fighter jets to Pakistan given that Islamabad was not taking enough action against terrorist organisations, in particular the Haqqani network, and there was continued existence of terrorist safe havens inside its territory.

Several Indian American organisations reached out to lawmakers expressing their concern over such a sale, which they argued is nothing but rewarding a bad actor.

Last week, top American lawmakers during a Congressional hearing openly told the Obama administration that they feared Pakistan would be using these F-16 fighter jets against India and not against terrorists.

However, both the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Pakistan government insisted that F-16 is an important tool in the fight against terrorism and urged the Congress to remove the hold. The lawmakers stood their ground and told the Obama administration that it will not till the time Pakistan takes tangible action against the Haqqani network.

On the occasion of fifth anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader at a safe hideout in Abbottabad on the outskirts of a Pakistan Army garrison town, by American commandos, the US publicly announced that it has asked Pakistan to use its national resources to buy F-16.

In saying so, the US expressed its disappointment over the Congressional hold. "Effective engagement with Pakistan, we believe, is critical to promoting the consolidation of democratic institutions and economic stability in supporting the government's counterterrorism activities and capabilities," Kirby said.

"As a matter of long-standing principle, the Department of State opposes conditions to the release of appropriated
foreign assistance funds. We believe that such conditions limit the president and the secretary's ability to conduct foreign policy in the best interest of the United States," Kirby said.

American refusal to allow F-16s to Pakistan is, in fact, a blessing in disguise for Pakistan offer multiple strategic benefits. First and foremost, Americans have once more demonstrated being unreliable suppliers and partners at a relatively early stage. One wonders why the PAF was so much addicted with these planes despite bitter past experience. During Mush era, Pakistan has stayed away from accepting a large number of these planes. The latest US slap will force the PAF adopt alternate approaches including boosting domestic R&D, initiating collaborations with other friendly nations, and using alternate technologies to reduce dependence on these planes. Second, the funds that were supposed to go waste for getting these planes would now be used for boosting JFT and other strategic programs. Thirds, now that USA is hell bent on challenging China strategically and probably militarily, Pakistan needs to stay away from their rivalry while solidly safeguarding our own national interests. Pakistan needs to make it abundantly clear to the US and Europe that the CPEC is a project aimed at promoting global trade, business, and commerce. Pakistan would welcome the participation and positive contributions from multinationals from the US too. But we are not a part of any rivalry between China and the US. At the end, it is the national interest that really decides and defines the policies of every nation. Americans need to know that Pakistan's arm twisting policy has not worked in the past and, now that we are in much better condition to defend our national interests, will surely not work in future either. The days of penalizing and punishing Pakistan have gone long ago. Cooperative and supportive policies will tremendously benefit to both USA and Pakistan.

 

[MastanKhan]

Because your country ran on Whims and Fancy of a subservient dictator, rather than a strong independent political system with checks and balances that reflect the will of the people.

Hi,

That is incorrect----. Our strong and independant political system does not want any checks and balances at all---it never has---.

You need to study our system a little deepr---there are more checks and balances and liberties and progress during our so called military dictators tenures---except for that lump Yahya Khan---the choice of Bhutto.

 

[Sulman Badshah]

A unit cost for F-16 Blk 52 is $ 34 Million. Pakistan was paying $ 700 million for 8 aircrafts .. that is 87.5$ per plane.

So what is extra $53.5 million for ? These are for spares , engines etc.

Now J-10C cost $30 Million per unit. But J-10 is a new aircraft where as F-16 is a fully integrated aircraft that has been service for 35 years in, No pilot or crew training required, no bases with overhauling equipment required.

A similar deal for J 10, will at least cost twice as much as F-16 to integrate in PAF.

no a new unit cost of each block 52 F16 is more than 60 million USD

 

[CHACHA"G"]

Hello all

US tells Pakistan it will have to fund F-16s itself
Last Updated On 03 May,2016 09:45 am

US has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of US F-16 fighter jets itself.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has told Pakistan it will have to finance the purchase of US F-16 fighter jets itself after members of the US Congress objected to the use of government funds to pay for them.

The US government said in February it had approved the sale to Pakistan of up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp LMT.N, as well as radar and other equipment in a deal valued at US$699 million.

However, Republican Senator Bob Corker said he would use his power as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to bar the use of any US funds for the deal to send a message to Pakistan that it needed to do more in the war against militants.

Corker s stance reflected deep unhappiness among both Democrats and Republicans in Congress about what they see as Islamabad’s policy of supporting militant groups that target Afghans and Americans, and Pakistan s failure to support the reconciliation process for Afghanistan.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said congressional opposition meant funds from the US government s Foreign Military Financing allocation could not be used to purchase the aircraft.

"Given congressional objections, we have told the Pakistanis that they should put forward national funds for that purpose," he told a regular news briefing.

Kirby said the State Department opposed putting conditions on the use of such funds and believed that effective engagement with Pakistan, including by supporting its counter-terrorism effort, was "critical" to promoting democracy and economic stability in the country.

Earlier, in Islamabad, Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant on foreign affairs to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, did not refer directly to the F-16 issue, but complained that there was a "lack of sufficient appreciation for Pakistan s whole-hearted efforts it was undertaking jointly with the US administration, in countering the threat posed by terrorism."

Fatemi made the remarks in a meeting with visiting professional staffers from the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee.

Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said in March it was using its own funds to pay suppliers and stave off closure of its F-16 fighter jet production line as it waited to finalise orders from Pakistan and other countries.

 

[Immortan.Joe]

Because your country ran on Whims and Fancy of a subservient dictator, rather than a strong independent political system with checks and balances that reflect the will of the people.

+ @MastanKhan ,from American prespective, your contribution to War on terror ,if it is not genuine, is not a requirement.

When there were 100's of thousand of US troops sitting in Afghanistan and US depended on you for supply routes, you had leverage, and you people played that leverage by supporting Afghan Taliban who were attacking US troops while pretending to be allies.

Now there are less than 8000 US army personals in Afghanistan, and most of them are in advisory role. US ,today, does not need your supply routes, and frankly it neither cares about Afghan stability or dead Afghan soldiers (they don't have political cost in USA). USA just want to keep Talibs at bay (them not having any territory in which they could establish terror training camp),something which could be easily done by playing age old warlord-warlord game in Afghanistan, or want talibs to toe US line.

Unless you either destroy Afghan Taliban, or make them kneel to US; you have no utility for US in WoT today.

 

[Dalit]

Ruined a perfect Meme war start . No way India wants or is getting F-16 production line. At max LM will pitch in for setting up of supply chain for MRO for various platforms that may include F16s.

F16 as a product is what we call has now reached the point of having diminishing returns that its is not prudent to produce.

On topic: Pakistan will find the money miraculously in its account to afford these jets. These are mere theatrics. Yanks play games with everyone, wait for two three months.

We're not interested in the F-16s. They cost too much and are sanction prone. The only reason our leadership keeps opting for F-16s is due to the existing infrastructure. Besides, Pakistan cannot and won't fully finance the 700 million for the F-16s. The Americans know this. Everyone knows this.

 

[CHACHA"G"]

Nope,

A unit cost for F-16 Blk 52 is $ 34 Million. Pakistan was paying $ 700 million for 8 aircrafts .. that is 87.5$ per plane.

So what is extra $53.5 million for ? These are for spares , engines etc.

Now J-10C cost $30 Million per unit. But J-10 is a new aircraft where as F-16 is a fully integrated aircraft that has been service for 35 years in, No pilot or crew training required, no bases with overhauling equipment required.

A similar deal for J 10, will at least cost twice as much as F-16 to integrate in PAF.

woooow
Man what country we are ,, According to you we are paying more then one and a half for spear parts ,,,, lmao
if that true then y not go for only 8 birds 34*8=272m man we already paid that ,,,,and do you think latest ne F16 block 52 is only 34m$$$ , man need source for that and no wiki please
And for J10C , yes it will cost 1billion dollars minimum for first 20 birds ,,But after that ,,,, They will be cheap and made in Pakistan without any USA problem ,
Thank you

 

[MilSpec]

Hi,

That is incorrect----. Our strong and independant political system does not want any checks and balances at all---it never has---.

You need to study our system a little deepr---there are more checks and balances and liberties and progress during our so called military dictators tenures---except for that lump Yahya Khan---the choice of Bhutto.

I don't claim to be an expert, but from what I have seen in your system, including Bhutto, you have never had anything remotely close to a Independent Political system.

I don't wan't to draw any comparisons but I will point out the will of strong political backbone, even with the 7th fleet knocking at the doors of India, we did not budge, and it took one phone call fron Collin Powell, to pull the carpet under the same taliban that Pakistan nurtured and babied. This is what is I was referring to.

Pakistan for military equipment has to pay. India too has to pay for it's equipment. The difference is India has paid sticker prices, inflated prices, even sometimes with commodities. Pakistan instead paid lesser in dollars and made the rest up with Subservience and Allegiances, At the onset dollars it paid was less, but the price as you know was HUGE.

 

[kabooter_maila]

Even at $700 million, F-16s are a huge bargain for PAF, considering the going rate for other 4 generation fighters these days.

Nope,

A unit cost for F-16 Blk 52 is $ 34 Million. Pakistan was paying $ 700 million for 8 aircrafts .. that is 87.5$ per plane.

So what is extra $53.5 million for ? These are for spares , engines etc.

Now J-10C cost $30 Million per unit. But J-10 is a new aircraft where as F-16 is a fully integrated aircraft that has been service for 35 years in, No pilot or crew training required, no bases with overhauling equipment required.

A similar deal for J 10, will at least cost twice as much as F-16 to integrate in PAF.

J-10 or any other Chinese plane means it's from a reliable source - a strategic benefit. Then, we can get access to the code and avionics allowing us integrating whatever systems we want to - another huge strategic benefit. Third, there is always a possibility of local manufacturing with complete ToT - never possible with American systems. In a nutshell, it's all win-win situation for Pakistan.

 

[Laozi]

All Pakistan has been told to pay for the Jets nowhere U.S. has refused to sell.

Pakistanis on this forum are assuming that American F 16 are expensive hence not worth buying

But When Pakistan realises the true cost of Chinese Financing ( Including assured absurdly high profits or insane high rate of interest) then F 16 will seem like a good bargain.

 

[Vyom]

We're not interested in the F-16s. They cost too much and are sanction prone. The only reason our leadership keeps opting for F-16s is due to the existing infrastructure. Besides, Pakistan cannot and won't fully finance the 700 million for the F-16s.

You will get the Money through other channels... and you might not be interested but looking at the defense setup, Pakistan AF top brass is.

If not then you guys need something that is its equivalent of Block 52. Flankers don't come close (different class-twin engined, heavy etc) Single engined options are there, but to compare F16 to JF17 will be unfair. PAF should get on with an alternate acquisition plan.

 

[Windjammer]

Albeit, US is not refusing to sell the F-16s and has asked Pakistan to decide by May end on the deal, however, as i posted six months earlier, Pakistan had already made it's position clear.

https://defence.pk/threads/this-is-not-the-nineties.406416/

 

[That Guy]

Pakistan is going to get these F-16s, and the US is going to pay for them.

Pakistan should forget about the F-16s, and save it's money for a better option, but it's still going to happen.

 

[Dalit]

You will get the Money the money through other channels... and you might not be interested but looking at the defense setup, Pakistan AF top brass is.

If not then you guys need something that is its equivalent of Block 52. Flankers don't come close (different class-twin engined, heavy etc) Single engined options are there, but to compare F16 to JF17 will be unfair. PAF should get on with an alternate acquisition plan.

The F-16 is a dead deal in its current form. Pakistan cannot justify earmarking 700 million dollars for the current deal. That includes the top AF brass because they have always maintained that money is an issue. Well, money is also an issue here. 700 million dollars is a lot of money and we don't have it.

Even if the the JF-17 lacks as opposed to the F-16 Pakistan would be better off investing in their own platform. We can always approach the Russians/Chinese for other alternatives if we are interested. The F-16 I'm afraid is a dead horse now.

 

[noksss]

This is good news for Pakistan. Even tremendous news. Truly a blessing. We're not going to pay 700 million for outdated tech. Sanity dictates (actually always has dictated) that Pakistan pursue other options or just stick with the newer JF-17 builds. Move away from the American realm of influence.

A big thanks to the US senators/congressmen! You made it possible for the naysayers.

Had it been up to our leaders we would have gone for these sanction prone platforms. Now let's see whether the F-16 supporters are going to justify the earmarking of 700 million dollars for the acquisition of these wretched platforms. After all, a lack of money is always used as an argument to negate the acquisition of other platforms. It should also be a very big issue now.

So are you telling me that you will be unhappy and express regret If the sale of Most advanced and PAF's Most Favorite fighter jet sale is cleared by Congress/Senate?