US to deliver 18 F-16s to Pakistan by month’s end

[sparklingway]

US to deliver 18 F-16s to Pakistan by month’s end​

By Zahid Gishkori

June 13, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The United States will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by the end of this month, The Express Tribune has learnt. The Block 50/52 model jets will land at an airbase in Sindh, officials said here on Saturday.

“The F-16, equipped with the latest missiles, will arrive at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad in the last week of June,” PAF Director Media Tariq Yazdani confirmed.

However, he avoided revealing the exact date the jets would land in Pakistan. According to sources privy to the deal, the delivery is expected to take place on June 24.

“The runways have been renovated for modern F-16 fighter jets, to transform the airbase into a completely operational one,” Yazdani said.

Informed sources said that the fighters were being delivered to Pakistan under a series of strict conditions by Washington. One of these stipulations is that Pakistan would not use the jets in any conflict with India, the source further added.

Another condition is that American air force engineers will accompany the delivery of the F-16s and supervise not only the air base but also the operations to be carried out by PAF against Taliban and al Qaeda.

Furthermore, though flown by PAF pilots, the logistics, management and control of the F-16s will be with the US engineers.

“Some American engineers will accompany the new fighter jets and will help the PAF engineers operate these F-16s for a short period accordingly,” a senior PAF official said, however hastening to add that no American pilots will be stationed at Shahbaz Airbase, he stressed.

“No foreigner, not even from the friendliest countries, will be allowed to have access to Shahbaz Airbase,” a source said, revealing the security and secrecy surrounding the deal.

According to these sources, approximately US$500 million were spent in the effort to upgrade the airbase to make it conducive to the new F-16s.

Meanwhile, Akhtar Munir of the Ministry of Defence’s public relations office also confirmed to The Express Tribune that the arrangements regarding the delivery of the new F-16 jets by the end of this month have been finalised.

“The Pakistani defence minister in a meeting with the Australian defence minister three days back at Islamabad told senior officials that 18 F-16s are being delivered to Pakistan within three weeks,” Munir said.

To a query, he said that the bill of effectively rebuilding Shahbaz Airbase was footed by the PAF and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that all necessary infrastructural requirements of the new jets are met.

He went on to say that the security of the Airbase has been enhanced and no one but PAF officials will be allowed to have access to the renovated airbase located in Jacobabad.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major Gen. Athar Abbas, when contacted regarding the delivery, said he could only confirm the details after consulting with the PAF authorities. However, he did say that a meeting of all concerned quarters may be held next week to finalise arrangements.

Meanwhile, a senior PAF official, on the condition of anonymity, said that approximately Rs25 billion were allocated for upgrading of the airbase.

Elaborating, he said that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) provided Rs7 billion to convert Shahbaz from a forward-operating base to a main-operating base, he added.

It is also pertinent to mention here that with the addition of 18 new F-16s, the total number of jet fighters in PAF will cross 50.The PAF currently has the Block 15 A/B F-16 models in operation, which have upgraded APG-66 radars.

It is expected that the much-demanded large-scale military operation against the Taliban and al Qaeda in North Waziristan will be launched after the US delivers the F-16s.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 13th, 2010.

 

[M8R]

Already posted i think and only 4 coming in June!

 

[farhan_9909]

Already posted i think and only 4 coming in June!

Sir jii read it again

we will get 18 by this month end nt 4

this is a latest news

 

[sparklingway]

There is definitely some confusion. As posted previously on the forum

Thats a false/misleading statement.

PAF will start receiving the blk 52 F-16 from June, but not all 14 of them will arrive in June. Here's the schedule of the F-16s blk 52+ that PAF had purchased:

• four aircraft will be ready in June 2010;
• four aircraft in August 2010;
  [*]five aircraft in october 2010; four aircraft in Dec 2010;
  [*]and, one aircraft in December 2011.

Reports quotes a PAF official. Let's see how may are coming when.

 

[Areesh]

First it was that 4 aircrafts would be delivered on 20th june and a ceremony would be held at Jacobabad airbase. This is something new. Let's see how much credible it is.

 

[alibaz]

I think condition are shameful. There is no fun for keeping an equipment which we can not use against our primary adversary.

 

[M8R]

We can use them you need to chill.These conditions were there in 65/71/84.Its just that we did not have a media back then.

 

[WAQAS119]

for what period these US engineers are going to stay here and whether their controlling of these planes is temporary or permanent?

 

[M8R]

for what period these US engineers are going to stay here and whether their controlling of these planes is temporary or permanent?

These engineers will train Pakistani crew and leave after few years when Pakistan has enough trained engineers to handle block 52.After that only 2-3 LM employees will stay here who will inspect f-16s after few months to make sure they have not been altered to use nuclear weapons or given to china.So nothing to worry about.

 

[Areesh]

So is it true that we are getting 18 F-16's in this month. Is the news credible.

 

[bc040400065]

US to deliver 18 F-16s to Pakistan by month’s end​

By Zahid Gishkori

June 13, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The United States will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by the end of this month, The Express Tribune has learnt. The Block 50/52 model jets will land at an airbase in Sindh, officials said here on Saturday.

“The F-16, equipped with the latest missiles, will arrive at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad in the last week of June,” PAF Director Media Tariq Yazdani confirmed.

However, he avoided revealing the exact date the jets would land in Pakistan. According to sources privy to the deal, the delivery is expected to take place on June 24.

“The runways have been renovated for modern F-16 fighter jets, to transform the airbase into a completely operational one,” Yazdani said.

Informed sources said that the fighters were being delivered to Pakistan under a series of strict conditions by Washington. One of these stipulations is that Pakistan would not use the jets in any conflict with India, the source further added.

Another condition is that American air force engineers will accompany the delivery of the F-16s and supervise not only the air base but also the operations to be carried out by PAF against Taliban and al Qaeda.

Furthermore, though flown by PAF pilots, the logistics, management and control of the F-16s will be with the US engineers.

“Some American engineers will accompany the new fighter jets and will help the PAF engineers operate these F-16s for a short period accordingly,” a senior PAF official said, however hastening to add that no American pilots will be stationed at Shahbaz Airbase, he stressed.

“No foreigner, not even from the friendliest countries, will be allowed to have access to Shahbaz Airbase,” a source said, revealing the security and secrecy surrounding the deal.

According to these sources, approximately US$500 million were spent in the effort to upgrade the airbase to make it conducive to the new F-16s.

Meanwhile, Akhtar Munir of the Ministry of Defence’s public relations office also confirmed to The Express Tribune that the arrangements regarding the delivery of the new F-16 jets by the end of this month have been finalised.

“The Pakistani defence minister in a meeting with the Australian defence minister three days back at Islamabad told senior officials that 18 F-16s are being delivered to Pakistan within three weeks,” Munir said.

To a query, he said that the bill of effectively rebuilding Shahbaz Airbase was footed by the PAF and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that all necessary infrastructural requirements of the new jets are met.

He went on to say that the security of the Airbase has been enhanced and no one but PAF officials will be allowed to have access to the renovated airbase located in Jacobabad.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major Gen. Athar Abbas, when contacted regarding the delivery, said he could only confirm the details after consulting with the PAF authorities. However, he did say that a meeting of all concerned quarters may be held next week to finalise arrangements.

Meanwhile, a senior PAF official, on the condition of anonymity, said that approximately Rs25 billion were allocated for upgrading of the airbase.

Elaborating, he said that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) provided Rs7 billion to convert Shahbaz from a forward-operating base to a main-operating base, he added.

It is also pertinent to mention here that with the addition of 18 new F-16s, the total number of jet fighters in PAF will cross 50.The PAF currently has the Block 15 A/B F-16 models in operation, which have upgraded APG-66 radars.

It is expected that the much-demanded large-scale military operation against the Taliban and al Qaeda in North Waziristan will be launched after the US delivers the F-16s.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 13th, 2010.

i remember when i was new to this forum and my first few post were in the F16 thread. and i pointed out that Shahbaz airbase has been under US use and the new F16 we will get have some serious liabilities because of the terms attach to the deal. But what i got.... really some of the senior members just starting bashing me.

but leave that aside, The question is Why buy these expensive toys??? only for flying hours of our pilots??? There are some realy serious concerns.... lets hope and pray for PAF and pakistan.

 

[M8R]

Shahbaz airbase is run by Pakistani Officials.There is space there given to Americans since 2001.Don't worry.The Base Commander is Pakistani.Air Cdr Kaiser Tufail was the base commandor in the early years.You guys are being paranoid.

 

[MJaa]

US to deliver 18 F-16s to Pakistan by month’s end


The United States will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) by the end of this month, The Express Tribune has learnt. The Block 50/52 model jets will land at an airbase in Sindh, officials said here on Saturday.

“The F-16, equipped with the latest missiles, will arrive at Shahbaz Airbase in Jacobabad in the last week of June,” PAF Director Media Tariq Yazdani confirmed.

However, he avoided revealing the exact date the jets would land in Pakistan. According to sources privy to the deal, the delivery is expected to take place on June 24.

“The runways have been renovated for modern F-16 fighter jets, to transform the airbase into a completely operational one,” Yazdani said.

Informed sources said that the fighters were being delivered to Pakistan under a series of strict conditions by Washington. One of these stipulations is that Pakistan would not use the jets in any conflict with India, the source further added.

Another condition is that American air force engineers will accompany the delivery of the F-16s and supervise not only the air base but also the operations to be carried out by PAF against Taliban and al Qaeda.

Furthermore, though flown by PAF pilots, the logistics, management and control of the F-16s will be with the US engineers.


“Some American engineers will accompany the new fighter jets and will help the PAF engineers operate these F-16s for a short period accordingly,” a senior PAF official said, however hastening to add that no American pilots will be stationed at Shahbaz Airbase, he stressed.

“No foreigner, not even from the friendliest countries, will be allowed to have access to Shahbaz Airbase,” a source said, revealing the security and secrecy surrounding the deal.

According to these sources, approximately US$500 million were spent in the effort to upgrade the airbase to make it conducive to the new F-16s.

Meanwhile, Akhtar Munir of the Ministry of Defence’s public relations office also confirmed to The Express Tribune that the arrangements regarding the delivery of the new F-16 jets by the end of this month have been finalised.

“The Pakistani defence minister in a meeting with the Australian defence minister three days back at Islamabad told senior officials that 18 F-16s are being delivered to Pakistan within three weeks,” Munir said.

To a query, he said that the bill of effectively rebuilding Shahbaz Airbase was footed by the PAF and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that all necessary infrastructural requirements of the new jets are met.

He went on to say that the security of the Airbase has been enhanced and no one but PAF officials will be allowed to have access to the renovated airbase located in Jacobabad.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major Gen. Athar Abbas, when contacted regarding the delivery, said he could only confirm the details after consulting with the PAF authorities. However, he did say that a meeting of all concerned quarters may be held next week to finalise arrangements.

Meanwhile, a senior PAF official, on the condition of anonymity, said that approximately Rs25 billion were allocated for upgrading of the airbase.

Elaborating, he said that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) provided Rs7 billion to convert Shahbaz from a forward-operating base to a main-operating base, he added.

It is also pertinent to mention here that with the addition of 18 new F-16s, the total number of jet fighters in PAF will cross 50.The PAF currently has the Block 15 A/B F-16 models in operation, which have upgraded APG-66 radars.

It is expected that the much-demanded large-scale military operation against the Taliban and al Qaeda in North Waziristan will be launched after the US delivers the F-16s.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 13th, 2010.

 

[fatman17]

posted already

 

[nomi007]

under strict conditions than why we are purchasing these jets.we have Sweden jets.please Paf must to think about other western jets