Pakistan to buy 44 F-16s from US

Islamabad: Pakistan's Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tanveer Mehmud Ahmad, on Monday said his country would buy 44 (18 brand new and 26 used) F-16s from the US.

Addressing his maiden press conference at the air headquarters in Islamabad, Ahmad said Pakistan was to purchase 18 brand new C and D versions of the F-16s, which would cost $2 billion.

He hoped these jets would join Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fleet after three years.

On induction of 26 used F-16s, he said, the US would configure these jets according to the PAF's requirement, adding, "We will have to pay a very nominal prices for these multi-role aircraft".

Speaking about the upgradation programme of the present fleet of F-16s, the Air Chief Marshal said the PAF has sought American help in upgrading these machines, which would cost $1 billion.

However, he strongly dispelled the impressions that Pakistan might transfer technology of the F-16s to a third country.

"There shall be no transfer of technology of the F-16s to anybody," Ahmad said in reference to apprehensions recently expressed by some of the US Congressmen that Pakistan might transfer technology to China.

He said Pakistan, which had always adhered to agreements on procurement of equipment with all countries including the US, expected that Washington would also not violate terms of agreement for delivery of the 44 jets.

"We have asked the US to come back to us with whatever assurances they require," Ahmad, who assumed command of the PAF in March 2006, said.

He added Pakistan had also sought help of the US in acquiring capability of a complete overhaul of F-16 engines at its aeronautical complex.

Claiming an edge over Indian Air Force in terms of training and technology, Ahmad said he was also looking into other possible options to acquire military aircraft.

He recalled successful inaugural operational flight of the JF-17 (Thunder) aircraft in May 2005, which Pakistan and China manufactured jointly.

"This plane would prove to be a major backbone of the PAF's future requirements", Ahmad added.

Pakistan plans to launch serial production of the medium-tech aircraft in 2007 following induction of the first batch of four JF-17s.

Ahmad said Pakistan would also buy a refueler plane soon but did not disclose either name of the aircraft or the country, which is to sell it to the PAF.