WASHINGTON: The United States Air Force has awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation to provide long-term engineering and technical support for F-16 fighter jet radar systems, with Pakistan among the countries covered under the agreement.
According to an official award notice issued this week, the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will support APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems used on F-16 aircraft.
Work will be carried out in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is scheduled to continue through March 31, 2036.
The contract falls under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and includes support for various countries.
These include Pakistan, Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand and Turkiye.
The US Air Force said the award was issued on a sole-source basis by the Air Force Lifecycle Management Centre at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
An initial $2.64 million in fiscal 2026 non-appropriated Air Force and Navy funds has been obligated at the time of the award.
The US Air Force said the agreement covers engineering and technical services for radar systems under the F-16 System Programme Office, supporting both FMS partners and US Air Force and Navy requirements.
The contract underscores Washington’s continued commitment to maintaining the operational readiness of F-16 fleets across partner air forces, including Pakistan, which operates US-origin fighter aircraft under periodic upgrade and maintenance arrangements.
A diplomatic source familiar with the matter, as cited by Dawn.com, said Pakistan has welcomed continued US support for its F-16 programme, noting that such arrangements help extend the aircraft’s operational life while ensuring compatibility with allied systems.
The source, as cited by Dawn.com, added that Pakistan’s air force has diversified its fleet in recent years but continues to value the sustainment of its existing F-16 capabilities.
The development follows a separate notification issued in December 2025 by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which informed the US Congress of a proposed $686 million package to upgrade and support Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
According to the DSCA, the package includes Link-16 tactical data systems, cryptographic equipment, avionics upgrades, training and logistical support.
It also covers modifications to operational flight programmes, identification friend-or-foe systems, precision navigation tools and secure communications equipment.
The proposed programme further includes simulators, technical documentation, software updates and engineering support.
Lockheed Martin was identified as the principal contractor for the upgrade.
The DSCA said that the upgrades would modernise Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, extend its service life through 2040, and address operational safety and avionics requirements.
The agency also noted that Pakistan had the capacity to absorb and sustain the upgrades.
US officials said the programme would not require additional deployment of US personnel to Pakistan and would have no adverse impact on US defence readiness.
