Pakistan plans to buy more F-16 aircraft: report
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, March 10,IRNA -- Pakistan plans to purchase used F-16 fighter jets from the United States to enhance its air capabilities, a leading Pakistani daily reported on Thursday.
In 2006, the US Congress agreed to give Pakistan 28 F-16C/Ds under its EDA or excess defence articles initiative. Fourteen of these aircraft have already been delivered.
These are the same that Pakistan purchased from the United States in the 1980s but EDA equipment is almost cost-free. Some of these aircraft are used for extracting serviceable parts for the existing fleet while those fit for overhauling are inducted into the air force.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a lightweight, compact fighter aircraft designed to perform a wide range of military missions. More than 4,000 F-16s have been or will be produced for 24 nations worldwide.
Pakistan air chief, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, has said that while negotiating with the US for more aircraft, Pakistan was simultaneously developing its defence manufacturing capability to reduce its reliance on America, Dawn newspaper reported.
According to these reports, he told an air chiefs` conference in Melbourne, Australia, that he had made a concerted effort to increase the manufacturing capability of Pakistan’s defence industry because the country has been subject to sanctions and embargoes in the past.
When asked about data links to tie F-16s to JF-17s, Air Chief Marshal Qamar said that Pakistan was working to develop its own solution.
Pakistan also has different types of airborne early warning and control (AEW and C) aircraft.
Besides AEW and C aircraft, the air force chief said, “We are talking to some western companies about tankers too.”
**1412
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30291399
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