Pakistan

F-16 jets land in Pakistan

The United States is set to deliver the first batch of Block-52 F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Pakistan today.

Express June 26, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The United States delivered the first batch of Block-52 F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Pakistan on Saturday.

The first batch of three jets customised to the needs of the Pakistan Air Force, have landed in Pakistan.

During a meeting at the Parliament House, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman informed Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani about the aircraft delivery.

He said the current fleet of F-16 aircraft is being used in the fight against militancy in the country's tribal areas.

Pakistan is paying $1.4 billion for the jets and an additional $1.3 billion for the up gradation of its existing fleet.

The jets are due to be delivered at the Shahbaz Air Base in Jacobabad today in presence of the United States Air Force Chief who has arrived in Islamabad.

COMMENTS (16)

Adeel Akhlaque | 14 years ago | Reply @ Shahid Aslam these block 52 F-16's are brand new. Pakistan is also buying used F-16's but they are not block 52. A little research perhaps before u post something anywhere!!

Bangash | 14 years ago | Reply Another great achivement of Musharraf for which his govt will get no credit.

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Qasim | 14 years ago | Reply The difference between Block 50/52 and Block 60 isn't that big, the USAF itself flies Block 50/52. The US always has very unfair sale terms. The argument that spending the money we did on these aircraft is bad because it would have been better-spent on education has major holes. Our biggest problem isn't our lack of funds, it is corruption. The cost of these F-16s is negligible compared to the hundreds of billions that are lost to corruption. We wouldn't have saved money by spending less on our defense because any savings would be consumed up by this parasitic elite rulership that is imposed on us from abroad. Our beloved leader couldn't come anywhere near Pakistan for many years because of corruption lawsuits, and was claiming he had mental problems to avoid the Swiss courts. He was imposed on us, by the same powers that cleared his way by getting all his cases forgiven using their previous puppet. These imported rulers, and the corruption wealth that they move to London and New York, is our biggest problem - not our meager ability to defend our borders.

Sadia Hussain | 14 years ago | Reply The induction of 3 new F-16 will further strengthen the capability of Pakistan Air force that is doing the key job of providing air support to ground troops in FATA. The battle of Fata calls for more unconventional means to fight terrorism

Shahid Aslam | 14 years ago | Reply After all USA find a place to dump their discarded F-16. However they have achieved another contract of supply of F-16 parts. It is out of question to believe that USA have provided latest F-16 to Pakistan.

Harris Waseem | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistan should negotiate with America in order to become more rich in F16...

Jamil | 14 years ago | Reply It is the need of USA to unblock of Pakistan blocked money since a long on the name of F-16 supply.

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply According to Wikipedia, Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime fighter, it evolved into a successful multi-role aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Though no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta. Americans are smart enough in selling their outdated military aircrafts to under developed nations.

Faheem | 14 years ago | Reply Another technological milestone achieved by Pakistan Air Force

Fahim Anwar Dar | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistan should try and negotiate a Transfer of technology agreement with USA Like India for F-16's. That should be a Litmus test for Pak-USA Relations.

Ashar Hameed | 14 years ago | Reply @Sultan Ahmed: My friend I must inform you, with an ounce of regret, that these Block 50/52 F-16's were outdated 10 years ago let alone today. UAE Air Force was flying Block 60 F-16's before we even placed the order for our Block 50/52 F-16's. Even Israel Air Force flies a highly advanced version, although most of their upgrades are indigenous. As a front line state in the war on terror we deserve economic and regional stability not only by the sole super power of the world but also by all other economic powers. Having said all that I must also advise you that the money we spent on these F-16's would have been better spent on our own JF-17 Jets to raise them to block 2 or beyond. We must have invested in more powerful and thrust vectoring engines, AESA radars, maybe even some level of stealth. Placing an order for last gen jets just does not make much sense especially when the cost is so high. @Wasi: Well said brother. @Syed Nadir: I know you are being sarcastic but your sarcasm does betrays something alarming, it is your acceptance that these Jets provide us with any sort of sophisticated defense especially when foreign operated drones attack innocent civilians hundreds of kilometers inside our international boundary. We have no defense mate, worst of all we have no dignity! The last line is not meant for you but for those that take an oath to defend the country against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply Ah yes! Broken free from American clutches we have! Defences are now impregnable! No one can even look at us with an evil eye! Until we need spare parts that is!

wasi siddiqui | 14 years ago | Reply "Pakistan is paying $1.4 billion for the jets and an additional $1.3 billion for the up gradation of its existing fleet." What a waste of money ...... People are dying of hunger and 1.4 billions are spend on F-16s , which is also under conditions of usage. This money could have been better spend on eradication of poverty and creating job oppotunities for jobless people. To the leaders of pakistan !!! remember day of judgement is coming and all of you will be in front of Allah for your deeds. May Allah help Pakistan

Khurram Ijaz | 14 years ago | Reply Upgradation is not an english word. Upgrade is also a noun. The proper english is "an additional $1.3 billion for upgrade of its existing fleet."

Sultan Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Reached, right, thanks, but it was not a real issue. We are already fighting and success in the operation we have control and has maintained our writ. We are facing some other painful problems one of them civil nuclear technology. We have industry and 1.7 million people lack of the power unemployment is spreading jobless people are committing suicide. As a front line ally against the war of terror we are rightly deserve of this latest invention.

Meekal Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply It would be interesting to know how the fly these deliveries. Fighter aircraft have very poor range even with extra fuel tanks.

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