Sale of F-16 C/D Block 52 to PAF Takes a Step Further

F-16 C/D Block 52 sale to PAF has moved a step further after the issuance of federal notification about it.. 

Washington: It seems that all the investment New Delhi made for lobbying anti-Pakistan law making in Washington turned into a vain attempt as the US government has formally published federal notification for the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan despite opposition from some American law makers belonging to Indian caucus.

"This proposed sale contributes to US foreign policy objectives and national security goals by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner in South Asia," said the notification which was published by the federal register yesterday, along with a copy of the February 11 letter, which the Defense Security Cooperation Agency wrote to the House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.

According to federal notification, the total cost of the deal is estimated to be approximately US$ 700 million. It added that the Government of Pakistan had requested for this sale.

According to notification published in the federal register, the proposed sale improves Pakistan's capability to meet current and future security threats.

"This sale will increase the number of aircraft available to the Pakistan Air Force to sustain operations, meet monthly training requirements, and support transition training for pilots new to the Block-52. Pakistan will have no difficulty absorbing these additional aircraft into its air force," the federal register said.

India had opposed this deal of F-16 to Pakistan by disagreeing with Washington's rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism and had said that these fighters will be used against India instead of terrorists.

On the other hand, Adviser to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz maintained that Pakistan had initially requested for 18 F-16s, but because of "financing problem" it is purchasing just eight.

"In the last five years Pakistan air force has been saving US assistance to be able to finance these F-16. That is why, the administration has recommended that these should be sold because it is a very critical part of our counter terrorism operation," Aziz said.

While emphasizing the role of these jets he said, "This is part of our fleet. For the last two-three years they have extensively been used in tribal areas".

"Right now the specialised need is the counter-terrorism operation, for which we are heavily dependent of F-16."

When asked if this is to be used only in the tribal region, he did not rule out otherwise.

Republican Senator Rand Paul has asked colleagues in the Senate to join him in opposing the sale of F-16s to Pakistan.

As per the notification, this sale involves the release of sensitive technology to Pakistan. The F-l 6C/D Block 50/52 weapon system uses the F-16 airframe and features advanced avionics and systems.

It contains the Pratt and Whitney F-100-PW-229 engine, AN/APG-68V(9) radar, digital flight control system, external electronic warfare equipment, Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF), LINK-16 datalink, and software computer programs. These sensitive technologies would enable PAF to strike the terrorists with precision in any kind of weather and terrain.