Pakistan negotiating with US for more F-16 fighter jets
March 9th, 2011 - 6:06 pm ICT by ANI
Washington, Mar 9(ANI): Pakistan is in negotiations with the United States to get more fighter jets, and is simultaneously developing its defence manufacturing capability to reduce its reliance on America.
In 2006, the US Congress agreed to give Pakistan 28 F-16C/Ds under an excess defence articles initiative, of which 14 aircraft were recently delivered.
Speaking to Aviation Week in Melbourne, where he was attending an air chiefs’ conference, Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said that negotiations are ongoing for the remaining 14 aircraft.
Qamar also said that he has made a concerted effort to increase the manufacturing capability of Pakistan’s defence industry because the country has been subject to sanctions and embargoes in the past.
When asked about data links to tie F-16s to JF-17s, Qamar said that Pakistan is working to develop its own solution.
“We have Link 16 on the F-16s. We will not fiddle with Link 16 and not have direct linkages [between the JF-17s] with the F-16,” he said.
Pakistan also has different types of airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft. Besides AEW&C aircraft, Qamar said, “We are talking to some Western companies about tankers.”
When asked if Pakistan would like to be part of the Chengdu J-20, fifth-generation fighter program, Qamar said: “We don’t have any involvement in this development so far. This seems to be an indigenous effort and we will keenly watch it. Obviously, China is a very good friend.”
But it will be years before the J-20 becomes operational in the Chinese air force, he added. (ANI)
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