Pakistan to Buy only 18 F-16s
April 23, 2008

Pakistan has decided to halve the number of new F-16C/D block 52 jets it's buying from the United States due to financial constraints.

Pakistan had earlier agreed to buy 36 of these aircraft at a total cost of $5.1 billion, which included associated weapons, spares and upgrading of an earlier fleet purchased in the 1980s.

Pakistan had originally agreed to purchase 36 F-16C/D block 52 at a total cost of $3 billion & additional $650 million for associated weapons.

The decision to reduce the order by half would also halve the cost of buying new F-16s and that of the weapons associated with them.

However the $1.3 billion Mid-Life Update (MLU) modification of the existing F-16A/B block 15 fleet purchased back in the 1980's remains unaffected. Engine modifications and purchasing some new equipment will cost Pakistan additional $151 million. When upgraded the modified jets will be fully equipped with weapons and facilities that come with an F-16 Block 52 aircraft.

Defence experts told that media stories saying the new F-16s will not have nuclear capabilities did not make sense. The source pointed out that when the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) received French Mirages they did not have the capability to carry nuclear weapons. However Pakistan was able to modify them to do so.

The United States will, however, have the right to conduct frequent inspections and inventory checking.

Pakistan’s request for new planes and for the modification for its earlier fleet was put on hold after the October 2005 earthquake.