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U.S. to Offer Smart-Bomb Kits, Drones to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The US will deliver this month to Pakistan 1,000 sophisticated laser-guided bomb kits that would enable the government there to strike insurgent targets with more precision.

The arms sale suggests that US officials are trying to deepen their relationship with Pakistan and increase military cooperation.

The US has been trying to encourage Pakistan to take a tougher stand against Taliban forces operating within its borders.

Lt. Col. Jeffry Glenn, an Air Force spokesman, said on Tuesday that the US had delivered 1,000 MK-82 bombs to Pakistan last month.

This month's shipment of kits would enable Pakistan to use sophisticated laser technology to guide the bombs to specific targets.

Glenn said the US also plans to provide Pakistan 18 new F-16 fighter jets by June.—AP


DAWN.COM | World | US to share laser-guiding bomb kits with Pakistan
 
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US to send Pakistan laser-guided bomb kits
Tue Mar 2, 2010 3:29pm EST
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WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The United States will deliver 1,000 laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month and is considering additional arms sales to help the Pakistani air force crack down on insurgents in the Afghan border region.

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told reporters on Tuesday the arms sales came in response to a request made by the air chief of the Pakistani air force in December.

"There continues to be a dialogue back and forth," Donley said, noting that the U.S. government had already agreed to sell Pakistan munitions and night vision goggles, and was also stepping up training.

Pakistan is also expected to receive new F-16 fighters made by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) this spring or summer, Donley said, noting that the fighter jets would give Pakistan's air force greatly expanded capabilities in its fight against "radical elements" in the border region.

Lockheed spokeswoman Laurie Quincy said the first of the 18 F-16s ordered by Pakistan was accepted by the Pakistani government in December but was still completing preparations to be ferried to the country later this year.

Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffry Glenn said the United States delivered 1,000 MK-82 500-pound bombs to Pakistan last month, and was considering additional requests for those bombs and more laser-guided tail kits.

Glenn said an initial batch of 700 GBU-12 and 300 GBU-10 Paveway laser-guided bomb kits built by Lockheed and Raytheon Co (RTN.N) would be delivered to Pakistan this month, allowing the Pakistani air force to outfit the MK-82 bombs delivered last month with sophisticated technology that allows better targeting of the weapons.

The expected delivery later this year of 18 F-16s to Pakistan will bring its inventory of the planes to 54.
Pakistan has been operating F-16s since 1982.

Donley said Pakistan was also upgrading the capabilities of its older F-16 fighter jets. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

US to send Pakistan laser-guided bomb kits | Reuters
 
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If my memory is serving me correctly, PAF is using the LGBs for quite some time (from around 1986 I guess). The title "US to share laser-guiding bomb kits with Pakistan" is a bit misleading isn't it?
 
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well its good news for PAf we need more than 100+ F 16s operational in PAF along with J 10 Vegarous dragon
 
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yee i think it is the ones that where imbargoed

nope, these are the same blk 52 batch. we got soybeans and wheat instead of f-16s/money, but in last couple of years we got atleast 14 of them back after we became an important ally of US in war against terrorism.
 
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US to supply laser-guided bombs to Pakistan



The US Air Force plans to deliver 1,000 laser-guided bomb kits to Pakistan this month to help Islamabad in its offensive against militants on the Afghan border, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

The Air Force is providing the kits after having delivered 1,000 MK-82 bombs last month to Pakistan's military, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffry Glenn told media.

The US military assistance underscored Washington's role in backing Pakistan's months-long campaign against Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants.

The Pakistani air force was playing "a big part" in operations against the extremists, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said.

"As they had ramped up operations, they're looking for ways to get additional capability," he told a gathering of defense reporters.

Pakistan's air force chief had visited Washington last year and made additional requests for US military assistance, he said.

Donley said the Pentagon had arranged for "expedited" delivery of the MK-82 bombs, which weigh 500 pounds each.

The United States also was due to deliver 18 additional F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan in June, outfitted with sophisticated night-vision equipment, Glenn said.

Confirmation of the arms deal came as Pakistan on Tuesday revealed a vast Taliban and Al-Qaeda hideout dug into mountains near the Afghan border, captured in an offensive against militants.

Pakistan seized the complex in its latest offensive against militants in its semi-autonomous tribal belt, following US pressure on the country to eliminate Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked groups who attack Western troops in Afghanistan.

President Barack Obama's administration has pledged stepped up military assistance and development aid to Pakistan, which Washington sees as a vital ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.

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Reference:
US to supply laser-guided bombs to Pakistan: official


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Comments: the article says:

18 additional F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan in June, outfitted with sophisticated night-vision equipment

so these 18 are only gonna be fitted with night vision equipment and not the block 52s everyone here is talking about :agree: >> :frown:

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so can one clear how many grand total F 16 pakistan get here is confussion some one saying pak will get 18 before we got 4 and than some say we order 18 more and now we will get our old 18 f 16 plz clear the deal from A to Z
 
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so can one clear how many grand total F 16 pakistan get here is confussion some one saying pak will get 18 before we got 4 and than some say we order 18 more and now we will get our old 18 f 16 plz clear the deal from A to Z

its 18 blk 52 only
 
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. will deliver this month to Pakistan 1,000 sophisticated laser-guided bomb kits that would enable the government there to strike insurgent targets with more precision.

The arms sale suggests that U.S. officials are trying to deepen America's relationship with Pakistan and increase military cooperation. The U.S. has been trying to encourage Pakistan to take a tougher stand against Taliban forces operating within its borders.

Lt. Col. Jeffry Glenn, an Air Force spokesman, said Tuesday the U.S. had delivered 1,000 MK-82 bombs to Pakistan last month. This month's shipment of kits would enable Pakistan to use sophisticated laser technology to guide the bombs to specific targets.

Glenn said the U.S. also plans to provide Pakistan 18 new F-16 fighter jets by June.

:pakistan::pakistan::usflag::usflag:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100302/wl_sthasia_afp/uspakistanmilitaryweapons_20100302201457
 
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