Posted on 09/13/2006 3:33:10 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Can’t hit India? No use for Pak - Islamabad shy of F-16 minus Mirage-buster
IMTIAZ GUL
Islamabad, Sept. 11: Pakistan’s long-delayed F-16 purchase from the US has stalled again just before the two sides were to ink the deal as Islamabad has realised that the jets would be useless in combat with the Indian Mirage 2000.
Pakistan was to sign what is called a letter of acceptance with the US to buy at least 18 new F-16 multi-role combat aircraft. But Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials informed General Pervez Musharraf a week ago that the aircraft did not have the electronic warfare system they want.
Musharraf, who began a three-nation tour today that also takes him to the US, was told that without this system the F-16s would be good only for training and not for combat with the Indian Mirage 2000 or any other Nato (the US-led western military alliance) aircraft.
This means any Nato aircraft attacking the F-16s from beyond visual range could take them out like sitting ducks. The F-16s would not know when they would be locked in the sight of the adversary and would be unable to take evasive action.
With Pakistani officials raising this issue, the visit from Washington — for which President George Bush had nominated a special envoy to participate in the signing ceremony scheduled for September 9 — was called off.
The PAF is to buy at least 44 F-16s from the US under a $5-billion package. They include 18 brand new latest F-16s of C and D version and 26 used jets.
Concerned over the absence of an effective electronic warfare system, Pakistani defence officials had requested the US Secretary Air Force International Affairs, which is the coordinator and supervisor for the project, to grant another extension till December 31 (the previous extension passed off on July 31) to seal the deal.
Musharraf is expected to try to extract some concessions when he meets Bush towards the end of this month.
The two countries have remained engaged in negotiations on F-16s amid concerns expressed by several US Congressmen about possible transfer of technology to China by Pakistan.
China has been closely working with Pakistan on nuclear and defence armament programmes.
“We understand US concerns are largely China-centric,” said a key figure related to the F-16 deal.
Well done. Musharraf won't be around for ever. Wouldn't want special forces worried about planes when trying to secure Pak nukes before the Taliban got to them first.
Bin Ladens head in a box.
Err,I thought that there wasn't much of a direct price for Pakistan's F-16s.A good chunk of it is to be covered in US military Aid.
This sale is too much to bay for Osama bin Laden's head.
Osama bin Laden is isolated in ineffectual. That is enough, for now. If we sold advanced F-16s to the Pakis, the Chinese would be reverse engineering the electronic systems within a fortnight. The Chinese are already developing potent aircraft, but they are way behind in electronic controls and weapons systems. We should not remedy that problem for them.
Not to worry, our F-22 fighters can shoot down F-16s all day without breaking a sweat. I think the practice run figures were something like 2 F-22s shot down about a dozen F-18s in minutes. Hardly challenging.
They will be Block 50/52s accord to various reports & news releases-the wishlist included Sniper XP pods,JHMCS,AMRAAMS,APG-68 radars etc.It's unlikely whether they could afford the Block 60 package.Anyway a hidden danger is that a large number of technical & combat personnel in the militaries of various "Oil Sheikdoms" like the UAE or Saudi Arabia are Pakistanis.So they would have an idea of the Blk 60.
The APG-80 AESA radar on the Blk 60s are not exactly top of the line when you consider those being used by aircraft in US service like the APG-79 or APG-63(V).
Tell them to buy a fuzzbuster!
Give us Zawahiri,Osama, and mullah Omar then we may sell you better stuff. Until then either buy this or go elsewhere.
Will the Sniper XL pods still say "made in Israel"?
I think you are referring to the Litening pod,which is built by Northrop Grumman for the US military,in partnership with Rafael of Israel,which offers it alone for export to other countries.The Sniper XL is an American system built by Lockheed Martin.
The Pakis would stick on Chinese-made RWRs and ELINT avionics on their stripped down Vipers.
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