PAF F-16 | Discussions

[Yasser76]

You and I know that the Americans won't do that. They also have to appease India.

It is a good thing because this allow Pakistan to aquire top notch fighter jets from China.

Yeah, last thing we need is a lot of American contractors running round our bases with any V package....

 

[alphapak]

. we can't get our hands on APG66/83 OR that our great Air Chief hasn't even bothered.

I can remember listening to retired Air Chief sohail Aman a long time ago and he mentioned that PAF asked for the F16 block 70/72 to counter the Rafales, the americans asked for a ridiculous price plus with many conditions.

He mentioned that when he read the conditions he just told them to get lost.
Then PAF turned to China for J10's, which I think it's worked out good for PAF.

PAF future will be all Chinese with JF17, J10C and J35A. Makes integration much easier.

 

[Samurai]

I can remember listening to retired Air Chief sohail Aman a long time ago and he mentioned that PAF asked for the F16 block 70/72 to counter the Rafales, the americans asked for a ridiculous price plus with many conditions.

He mentioned that when he read the conditions he just told them to get lost.
Then PAF turned to China for J10's, which I think it's worked out good for PAF.

PAF future will be all Chinese with JF17, J10C and J35A. Makes integration much easier.

I know this hasn't been talked about by anyone on this forum, but still I want to ask... Why hasn't Pakistan ever considered acquiring Eurofighter Typhoon or Gripen? (No chance for Rafale because both France and India share strong economic and political ties). Are they more expensive than a F-16V?

Also we know that US won't sell the stuff to Pakistan because of India and the sanctions thing, but does European countries also apply those same political strings for their brands as well?

 

[ghazi52]

US awards F-16 upgrade contract for Pakistan, other states​

Anwar Iqbal
May 2, 2026

WASHINGTON: The United States Air Force has awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for long-term engineering and technical support of F-16 Fighting Falcon radar systems, with Pakistan among the countries covered by the deal.

According to an official award notice, released this week, the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will support the APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems used on F-16 fighter aircraft. Work will be carried out in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is scheduled to continue through March 31, 2036.

The contract covers support for multiple partner countries under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, including Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand and Turkiye.

The award was issued on a sole-source basis by the US Air Force Lifecycle Management Centre in Utah. An initial $2.64 million in fiscal 2026 non-appropriated Air Force and Navy funds has been obligated at the time of award.

The latest support arrangement underscores the long-term US commitment to sustaining F-16 operational readiness across allied and partner air forces, including Pakistan, which continues to operate a fleet of US-origin fighter aircraft under periodic upgrade and maintenance arrangements.

The development follows a separate US notification in December 2025, when the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed Congress of a proposed $686 million package to upgrade and support Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Makes integration much easier.

This is the key reason and decision point for the systems of systems and multi-domain warfare where you need to be able to integrate at a far higher level than you could do before and why it makes no sense to purchase USA platforms anymore. The KAAN should be easier to integrate "fully" but outside of that, there are not many platforms out there that can integrated soo freely and "fully".

 

[SABRE]

US awards F-16 upgrade contract for Pakistan, other states​

Anwar Iqbal
May 2, 2026

WASHINGTON: The United States Air Force has awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. for long-term engineering and technical support of F-16 Fighting Falcon radar systems, with Pakistan among the countries covered by the deal.

According to an official award notice, released this week, the firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract will support the APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems used on F-16 fighter aircraft. Work will be carried out in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is scheduled to continue through March 31, 2036.

The contract covers support for multiple partner countries under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, including Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand and Turkiye.

The award was issued on a sole-source basis by the US Air Force Lifecycle Management Centre in Utah. An initial $2.64 million in fiscal 2026 non-appropriated Air Force and Navy funds has been obligated at the time of award.

The latest support arrangement underscores the long-term US commitment to sustaining F-16 operational readiness across allied and partner air forces, including Pakistan, which continues to operate a fleet of US-origin fighter aircraft under periodic upgrade and maintenance arrangements.

The development follows a separate US notification in December 2025, when the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed Congress of a proposed $686 million package to upgrade and support Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.

F-16s are not going anywhere anytime soon. My guess is they'll stay around till 2050.

 

[Ali_Baba]

F-16s are not going anywhere anytime soon. My guess is they'll stay around till 2050.

The recent operation in Afghanistan have proven that the platform has value and should be kept, but I don't that value however extends to them being upgraded fully to the V standard either.

 

[Yasser76]

The recent operation in Afghanistan have proven that the platform has value and should be kept, but I don't the value however extends to them being upgraded fully to the V standard either.

Agree, 10 years from now, in their current form, these will very much be second line...

 

[MirageV3ff]

I know this hasn't been talked about by anyone on this forum, but still I want to ask... Why hasn't Pakistan ever considered acquiring Eurofighter Typhoon or Gripen? (No chance for Rafale because both France and India share strong economic and political ties). Are they more expensive than a F-16V?

Also we know that US won't sell the stuff to Pakistan because of India and the sanctions thing, but does European countries also apply those same political strings for their brands as well?

Grippens were evaluated in the late 90s. I believe there was a thread made by @Windjammer on the subject a few years back. Grippens never came to fruition

As far as Typhoons were concerned. PAF was interested. Even as recent as 2019.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

You and I know that the Americans won't do that. They also have to appease India.

It is a good thing because this allow Pakistan to aquire top notch fighter jets from China.

+ build them in-house....

 

[Raider 21]

I fail to understand that even when we have (pretty) good ties with the US currently, we can't seem to upgrade the Radars from APG66/68 to APG66/83 (SABR).

Obviously..., it'll cost a lot to upgrade the entire Fleet of 75 Vipers, but at the very least they outta push for those 18 Block 52's of No. 5 Sqn (Falcons).

The current PAF leadership are waiting for that to be offered rather than asking for it. 5 sqn jets are very much in need of an update, the earlier models have exceeded their 15 year mark

 

[Raider 21]

PAF do not rate SU-27/SU-30 from what I hear, they evaluated briefly when we had no other options....

They had selected the Su-27 in early 90s. The Indian government pressured the Russian government to not grant the program for Pakistan

 

[StormBreaker]

Agree, 10 years from now, in their current form, these will very much be second line...

3-4 years at max.

 

[Raider 21]

Grippens were evaluated in the late 90s. I believe there was a thread made by @Windjammer on the subject a few years back. Grippens never came to fruition

As far as Typhoons were concerned. PAF was interested. Even as recent as 2019.

Gripen wasn't evaluated, the Swedes blocked any potential deal due to the US embargo. The only time they allowed them fly a Gripen was a joyide for one of PAF's senior leaders.

 

[StormBreaker]

They had selected the Su-27 in early 90s. The Indian government pressured the Russian government to not grant the program for Pakistan

God has his ways.

India is peak karma sufferer