Pakistan plans to buy 14 more F-16 jets from USA

[Lankan Ranger]

Pakistan plans to buy 14 more F-16 jets from USA

Pakistan is negotiating with the United States to buy 14 additional F-16 fighter planes, Pakistan defence officials said on Sunday, following talks aimed at reversing tempestuous ties between the allies.

The United States and Pakistan have agreed to fast-track pending Pakistani requests for military equipment as the two step up security cooperation, Pakistan's foreign minister said on Wednesday during a high-profile visit to Washington.

A senior Pakistani defence official told Reuters that Pakistan was asking for 14 new F-16 planes.

“Talks are underway and we're hoping to get them at a low price,” the official, who requested not to be identified, said.

Pakistan is an important US ally in the battle against al Qaeda and the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The United States has provided F-16 fighter jets to Islamabad and Pakistan's navy chief was in Washington this month to discuss the handover in August of a refurbished US frigate.

Washington said this month it would deliver 1,000 laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan within weeks and is considering more weapons sales to help the Pakistani air force crack down on insurgents in the Afghanistan border region.

In early 2010, the United States approved the delivery of 12 Lockheed Martin Corp's F-16C and 6 F-16D planes, scheduled to begin from June 2010.

This delivery to Pakistan will bring its inventory of the planes to 54. If a new deal is approved, Pakistan's arsenal of F-16s, including refurbished fighters, will amount to 79, defence officials said. Pakistan has been operating F-16s since 1982.

Another official said Pakistan's interest in new F-16s was a bid to match India's firepower.

“Look at the rival (India). How many fighter jets they are purchasing and if you're getting them at a low price then why not?” he said.

India plans to buy 126 air and ground attack fighters, which will elevate its air force to super-power status, with deployments planned near the borders with Pakistan and China, officials say.

One bone of contention between Washington and Islamabad has been a delay in about $2 billion in military aid owed by the United States to Pakistan under a programme called the Coalition Support Fund.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said a “substantial” amount of the money would be paid by the end of April, with Washington promising the remainder by the end of June.

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Pakistan plans to buy 14 more F-16 jets from US

 

[Super Falcon]

well why not they buy UAE used mirages in low rates too well if they wants for air to air war than F 16 is better but even better willl be F 15 to match SU 30 MKI and F 15 would have 100 percent edge over Indian SU 3o well Stilll f 16 is good against SU 30 because our pilots have advantage over indian pilots if we go for than advantage will incraese to 50 percent than paf pilots and F 15 of paf will both have edge on indian pilots and SU 30 anyway what type of radar our F 16 has ANPG 64 or ANPG 68 or AESA

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

If we can develop our own avionics and put it on a kite that will probbly be more beneficial for our defence then getting 1974
planes

I am waiting for J10B fighters personally

 

[fatman17]

PAF wants 100 F-16s in its inventory by 2012. this was the 'original' peace-gate I-IV plan which fell to 'sanctions'

 

[rAli]

are these the USN F-16A/Bs that were supposed to be release or are we going for new block 52s. If these are new birds then we had the option to go for 18 more , why 14??????

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

they would be MLU'd upon delivery, as per ACM

im not sure if these are the actual embargoed aircrafts or if these are just EDAs

 

[fatman17]

they would be MLU'd upon delivery, as per ACM

im not sure if these are the actual embargoed aircrafts or if these are just EDAs

either ones will do!

 

[Mani2020]

either ones will do!

Old f-16's after MLU may be theoretically on par with block 52 but in reality they will still lack few things ,out of these the important one are engine performance,Payload and range

Obviously f-16 with greater payload capacity and range will always be preferred as our enemy has aircrafts that can carry heavy payloads to great distances

Heavy Payload means more destruction for enemy in one sortie and more range means more deep strikes in enemy territory specially when they have nuclear warheads installed deep inside their territory

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

if financial and other constraints were not an issue, i would consider taking up on old U.S. offer for the A-10s

at this time, the USAF is retiring 250+ F-16s, F-15s, and A-10s to ''save money'' ($3.5b)

not sure about service lives of said aircrafts....


ksl.com - Air Force to retire 250 aircraft and fighter jets

 

[Mani2020]

if financial and other constraints were not an issue, i would consider taking up on old U.S. offer for the A-10s

at this time, the USAF is retiring 250+ F-16s, F-15s, and A-10s to ''save money'' ($3.5b)

not sure about service lives of said aircrafts....


ksl.com - Air Force to retire 250 aircraft and fighter jets

For me f-15 would have been best choice, as it is a twin engined heavy class air superiority fighter ,will be direct match to mki's and will be used for strike missions also with more range as compared to any other aircraft in our inventory plus the luxury of buddy refueling and AESA radar

For ground attack purpose C-130's can fulfill the roles along with jf-17 and f-15's

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Old f-16's after MLU may be theoretically on par with block 52 but in reality they will still lack few things ,out of these the important one are engine performance,Payload and range

Obviously f-16 with greater payload capacity and range will always be preferred as our enemy has aircrafts that can carry heavy payloads to great distances

Heavy Payload means more destruction for enemy in one sortie and more range means more deep strikes in enemy territory specially when they have nuclear warheads installed deep inside their territory

true, but then again (older) F-16s were never really made for the bomber role; they are famed for A2A combat, thanks to their superior maneuverability and with the right weapons

F-16A is MORE nimble than the C, which has gained weight over the years. The F-16A radar was good if not outstanding, and the basic air to air armament was the AIM-9L. Until the AMRAAM, the F-16 did not have the big stick, and it was a visual fighter - a very good one.

When F-sola was first flown at Farnborough, it blew everyone away. Still a very potent fighter (more so after scheduled MLU)

 

[Mani2020]

true, but then again (older) F-16s were never really made for the bomber role; they are famed for A2A combat, thanks to their superior maneuverability and with the right weapons

F-16A is MORE nimble than the C, which has gained weight over the years. The F-16A radar was good if not outstanding, and the basic air to air armament was the AIM-9L. Until the AMRAAM, the F-16 did not have the big stick, and it was a visual fighter - a very good one.

When F-sola was first flown at Farnborough, it blew everyone away. Still a very potent fighter (more so after scheduled MLU)

No one is denying the fact that f-16 is a potent fighter , F-16 is basically a multirole fighter mean it can be used for A2A and A2G as well and my point was with accordance to this capability plus you cant rely on multi role platform to perform just one mission as there main purpose is to provide flexibility to the air forces and for me if war broke out PAF at some point of time have to perform A2G missions deep inside enemy territory as the will also try to do same and try to destroy our nuclear installations...and we dont have any other fighter other than f-16 withe such range ,Although fc-20 will have but they are still no where near arrival and also the fc-20 will be use as more of an air superiority fighter atleast thats what i can see

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

I'm with you bro, I'm with you.

Help convince our people to pay their taxes in their entirety!

 

[Imran Khan]

well why not they buy UAE used mirages in low rates too well if they wants for air to air war than F 16 is better but even better willl be F 15 to match SU 30 MKI and F 15 would have 100 percent edge over Indian SU 3o well Stilll f 16 is good against SU 30 because our pilots have advantage over indian pilots if we go for than advantage will incraese to 50 percent than paf pilots and F 15 of paf will both have edge on indian pilots and SU 30 anyway what type of radar our F 16 has ANPG 64 or ANPG 68 or AESA

yaar again and again we no need old mirages now jf-17 on line same as mrage2000 f-16 coming fc-20 on they way so why mirage2000 used? now look at 5th gen in future .

 

[you are fired]

yaar again and again we no need old mirages now jf-17 on line same as mrage2000 f-16 coming fc-20 on they way so why mirage2000 used? now look at 5th gen in future .

5th gen let me think

you can buy

f35
f22
the best option

pakistan should buy one of them