PAF F-16 | Discussions

[kimjongun]

Imagine we had the newest blocks of the f16ss , sadly the key word is imagine

 

[Aamir Hussain]

I suspect we might see some movement in the upgrade or even used/new acquisitions of F-16 due to KSA factor.

Americans would most likely want US origin aircraft's to be near their advance Air Defence Systems.

I don't see KSA funding the purchase of J-35, KAAN maybe.

 

[MirageV3ff]

PAF to receive engineering and technical support for APG 66/68 radars for its f-16 fleet



Contracts for April 28, 2026 > U.S. Department of War > Contract | U.S. Department of War https://www.war.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4472473/contracts-for-april-28-2026/

 

[Fatman17]

Northrop Grumman gets $488M to keep F-16 radar flying worldwide

The U.S. Air Force committed nearly half a billion dollars to keeping the F-16's radar supported across two dozen countries on April 27, 2026. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., operating from its Linthicum Heights, Maryland facility, received a ceiling $488 million

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F-16s radar upgrade for 21 countries including Pakistan

 

[rafale]

Northrop Grumman gets $488M to keep F-16 radar flying worldwide

The U.S. Air Force committed nearly half a billion dollars to keeping the F-16's radar supported across two dozen countries on April 27, 2026. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., operating from its Linthicum Heights, Maryland facility, received a ceiling $488 million

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F-16s radar upgrade for 21 countries including Pakistan

This is not Radar upgrade, read it carefully, it seems like a sustainment support contract for the existing APG66/68 radar sets.

What it most likely is, that the Radar OEM will continue to provide support/spares for keeping the mentioned airforces APG66/68 working.

 

[Fatman17]

This is not Radar upgrade, read it carefully, it seems like a sustainment support contract for the existing APG66/68 radar sets.

What it most likely is, that the Radar OEM will continue to provide support/spares for keeping the mentioned airforces APG66/68 working.

Stand corrected

 

[Trailer23]

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).

 

[Yasser76]

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).

Yeah, would have thought AESA and AIM-120D would have been a easy ask from US

 

[Trailer23]

Yeah, would have thought AESA and AIM-120D would have been a easy ask from US

Aim-120D might be a tall order right now, but - come on ...

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

Side note: I wouldn't be surprised if its the latter.

 

[Yasser76]

Aim-120D might be a tall order right now, but - come on ...

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

Side note: I wouldn't be surprised if its the latter.

My only guess is we must be scraping every single dollar for the upcoming Chinese weapons packages, like literally every spare dollar....

 

[Corax]

Although it would be relatively easy to scale the utilisation of our existing Viper fleet by going for mods like SABR and AIM120D, and aside from the cost issue, there is the likely bottleneck of how far we can integrate such upgrades into our existing kill chain network. For example, it seem we have mid course guidance capability of the PL15 from multiple sensor platforms, but would we have the same ability for the AIM120D? If not, it may not be worth it.

 

[Ali_Baba]

My only guess is we must be scraping every single dollar for the upcoming Chinese weapons packages, like literally every spare dollar....

I think it is all about the J-35AE now personally too - it is a significant capability upgrade and one that will temper the Indians until they get something equivalent.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Although it would be relatively easy to scale the utilisation of our existing Viper fleet by going for mods like SABR and AIM120D, and aside from the cost issue, there is the likely bottleneck of how far we can integrate such upgrades into our existing kill chain network. For example, it seem we have mid course guidance capability of the PL15 from multiple sensor platforms, but would we have the same ability for the AIM120D? If not, it may not be worth it.

I think the cost, and lack of flexibility to integrate new weapons into the F16 has always been the issue for the platform. An upgrade of the F16 may well cost the same a new J10CE with the same amount of remaining flying hours.

Other thank local dumb bombs, we have never seen anything else integrated on the F16s due to the restrictive licensing terms and that now is a strategic issue given how Pakistan wants to develop its own munitions locally.

The future of air warfare is no longer about the capability of the individual platform, but the systems of systems, and on that regard F16 is too restrictive which is a shame as there is no other fighter in the PAF that can carry a payload as large as the F16.

 

[Yasser76]

I think it is all about the J-35AE now personally too - it is a significant capability upgrade and one that will temper the Indians until they get something equivalent.

Yup, once J-35 lands it will be a generational leap over India, akin to the F-16A landing in 1983. 20 years breathing space I reckon....

 

[MirageV3ff]

I think the cost, and lack of flexibility to integrate new weapons into the F16 has always been the issue for the platform. An upgrade of the F16 may well cost the same a new J10CE with the same amount of remaining flying hours.

Other thank local dumb bombs, we have never seen anything else integrated on the F16s due to the restrictive licensing terms and that now is a strategic issue given how Pakistan wants to develop its own munitions locally.

The future of air warfare is no longer about the capability of the individual platform, but the systems of systems, and on that regard F16 is too restrictive which is a shame as there is no other fighter in the PAF that can carry a payload as large as the F16.

I do wonder why China hasn't sold its flankers to Pakistan. The "Russian Restriction" feels more like an excuse rather than an actual reason