Key Points
- $686 million F-16 upgrade approved by the US, extending Pakistan Air Force aircraft service life through 2040
- Congressional clearance completed with no objections, confirming approval under US law
- Enhanced interoperability and safety, including avionics upgrades, Link-16 systems, and sustainment support
WASHINGTON: In a significant boost to Pakistan–US defence cooperation, Washington has formally approved a $686 million upgrade and sustainment package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter aircraft fleet after clearing all required congressional procedures.
The package, approved through the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), will modernise and extend the service life of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 Block-52 and midlife-upgrade aircraft through 2040, while ensuring continued interoperability with US and allied forces. Lockheed Martin, the original manufacturer of the F-16, has been named as the principal contractor.
DAWN, Pakistan’s leading English-language daily, reported that the approval followed the completion of a mandatory 30-day congressional review period, during which no objections were raised — effectively granting congressional consent in line with US law governing foreign military sales.
According to official documents, the upgrade programme focuses primarily on sustainment, refurbishment, and modernisation, with $649 million allocated for long-term support services and $37 million for major defence equipment.
The package includes advanced avionics, secure communications, navigation systems, mission-planning tools, software and hardware upgrades, and 92 Link-16 tactical data-link systems, significantly enhancing situational awareness and operational coordination, according to the Dawn report.
The DSCA said the programme would address critical flight-safety requirements, improve aircraft readiness, and strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism and future contingency operations. It also emphasised that the upgrade would not alter the regional military balance and would have no adverse impact on US defence readiness.
Pakistan is expected to absorb the upgraded systems smoothly, and the implementation will not require additional US personnel on Pakistani soil. No offset agreements are currently associated with the sale, with any such arrangements to be negotiated directly between Pakistan and Lockheed Martin.
The approval marks a positive development in bilateral relations, reaffirming Washington’s support for Pakistan’s air force modernisation and its continued role as a key security partner.
