Although its official publication has not yet appeared in the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the U.S. government would advance in authorizing a modernization package for Pakistan’s F-16 Block 52 fighter jets. This information comes from records from the U.S. Congress, which reveal a presentation made by the State Department regarding the operation, included in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and valued at $686 million, for approval.
Currently, the Pakistan Air Force is a significant operator of F-16 fighter jets since the 1980s, which were acquired in successive batches under the Peace Gate I, II, III, and IV Programs, not without suffering embargoes due to the fluctuations in the relations between Islamabad and Washington. However, thanks to the relaunching of relations between the two countries in the 2000s, under the framework of the so-called War on Terror, Pakistan was able to rebuild its ties, enabling the acquisition of the more modern F-16s currently in its inventory, which belong to the Block 52 (12 F-16C and 6 F-16D).
For these reasons, and given the need to keep one of its primary combat platforms updated, the Pakistani government requested the acquisition of various systems and services from the United States that would correspond to a modernization package. The records indicate that these would be focused on the Block 52 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.
This is evident from the justifications outlined in the presentation to the Foreign Relations Committee to proceed with the sale, stating: “The proposed sale will maintain Pakistan’s capability to meet current and future threats by updating and modernizing its F-16 Block 52 fleet and aircraft undergoing Mid Life Upgrade programs.”
Adding: “These improvements will provide more seamless integration and interoperability between the Pakistan Air Force and the U.S. Air Force in combat operations, exercises, and training, while refurbishment tasks will extend the aircraft’s service life until 2040 and address critical flight safety concerns. Pakistan has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining its military forces and will have no difficulty incorporating these items and services into its armed forces.”
The presentation also provides, in addition to the operation’s value and with Lockheed Martin as the primary supplier, a list of several of the equipment and systems that would be part of the operation, such as new datalink 16 systems and inert practice bombs MK 52 of 500 pounds.
The package would also include: “… hardware and software modifications to the aircraft to support the Operational Flight Program and mandatory avionics upgrades; advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) AN/APX-126 system (or equivalent); KY-58M and KIV-78 cryptographic modules; simple key loaders AN/APQ-10C; additional secure communications equipment, precision navigation, and cryptographic devices; joint mission planning systems and their support; common reprogramming and integrated test equipment for munitions…”
Finally, in relation to the above, it should be noted that the modernization package, soon to be announced, could be complemented with the potential sale of new air-to-air missiles for Pakistan’s F-16s, as indicated by a contract awarded to Raytheon for the provision of AMRAAM missiles to allied countries under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, with Pakistan among them.
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