- The improvements will improve collaboration between the two air forces.
- The DSCA letter states that the sale will not alter the military balance in the region.
- Lockheed Martin named prime contractor for F-16 support.
The United States has approved the sale of advanced technologies and support services worth $686 million for Pakistan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets, according to a letter from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to Congress on December 8.
The package covers Link-16 data link systems, cryptographic equipment, avionics upgrades, training and extensive logistical support. The DSCA says the decision aligns with Washington’s broader strategic objectives, saying the sale “will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enabling Pakistan to maintain interoperability with U.S. and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and in preparation for future contingency operations.” »
The letter said the upgrades are aimed at modernizing Pakistan’s F-16 Block-52 and Mid-Life Upgrade and meeting operational security requirements. According to the letter, the sale will “maintain Pakistan’s ability to address current and future threats by updating and refurbishing its Block-52 and F-16 Mid Life Upgrade fleet.”
The DSCA adds that the upgrades will improve collaboration between the two air forces, saying the updated systems will ensure “seamless integration and interoperability between the Pakistan Air Force and the US Air Force in combat operations, exercises and training”, while the refurbishment will extend the aircraft’s service life until 2040 and resolve critical safety issues.
The document also states that Pakistan is ready to integrate the systems into its forces, noting that the country “has shown its commitment to maintaining its military forces and will have no difficulty in absorbing these items and services into its armed forces.”
Responding to regional sensitivities, the DSCA says the sale “will not alter the fundamental military balance in the region.”
Lockheed Martin, based in Fort Worth, Texas, will serve as prime contractor. The agency confirms that implementation will not require additional U.S. government personnel or contractors in Pakistan and emphasizes that there will be “no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
Of the total amount, $37 million covers major defense equipment, while $649 million concerns other items. The MDE component includes 92 Link-16 systems and six 500-pound Mk-82 inert bomb bodies, which will be used solely for weapons integration testing.
Link-16 is a secure, real-time communications network for sharing tactical data between U.S. and allied forces. It resists electronic jamming and, notes the DSCA, “provides combatants with key functions in the theater of war such as surveillance, identification, air control, coordination of weapons engagement and direction of all allied services and forces.”
The rest of the package includes non-MDE items such as the AN/APQ-10C single key magazines and the AN/APX-126 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe System, which allows identification of hostile and friendly aircraft.
