PAF F-16
With the 13 F-16 fighter aircraft received from Jordan, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has raised a new squadron, No 19, at Mushaf Air Base. The F-16 fleet of the PAF now stands at 79. The Government of Pakistan has requested the US for a possible sale of up to 36 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft – a purchase of 18 jets, with an option for another 18. The planes would be equipped with the APG-68(V)9 radars which are the most modern F-16 radar except for the UAE’s F-16E/F Block 60 “Desert Falcons” and their AN/APG-80 AESA.
The engine contract was less certain. Pakistan’s existing F-16s use the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine but the new planes involved a competition between Pratt & Whitney’s F100-PW-229 and General Electric’s F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines. The total value, if all options are exercised, was estimated as high as $3 billion, which is in line with Pentagon releases that eventually peg the negotiated cost of twelve F-16Cs, six F-16Ds and ancillary equipment at $1.4 billion.
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Indians as a nation are very sensible people, until Pakistan comes in
India should take up the sale of F-16 issue with the US government and not allow any sales of weapons to Pakistan, directly or indirectly. India should also work with the European countries to stop purchase of any weapons by Pakistan. Apart from increasing our capabilities we should also stop Pakistan from acquiring new wepons. Pakistan will however continue to get weapons from its all weather ally China. However, if we stop Pakistan from getting weapons from other nations, especially from US and European countries, we can reduce the induction of new weapons by Pakistan. Recently, Russia is said to have expressed interest in selling choppers to Pakistan. We should also convince Russia not to sell weapons to Pakistan.