Posted on 12/10/2010 8:56:22 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Turkey to upgrade PAF F-16s
By: Maqbool Malik
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has opted for Turkish Aerospace Industrial Complex ‘TAI’ for the Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of its F-16A/B aircraft fleet in a bid to enhance its operational capability.
Well-placed defence sources told The Nation on Friday that Pakistan and Turkey signed an agreement in this regard last week and the multimillion dollars project would begin soon. Sources said that Pakistan has opted for ‘TAI’ - the Ankara-based Turkish aerospace industrial complex - just for the cost-effectiveness after its lengthy negotiations with the US manufacturers failed to bear fruits. “The US manufacturers of the F-16 aircraft were very expensive. Therefore Pakistan had to opt for Turkey,” a source said.
Sources further said that under the agreement the project, that was expected to kick-start within next two months or so, would be executed in phases. The PAF, which currently has more than 40 F-16 A/B multi-roller fighter fleet, would soon start sending its F-16 aircraft to Turkey for the MLU.
TAI, established in 1984, is a joint venture of various Turkish companies and had successfully realised the co-production of F-16 fighters, CN-235
(Excerpt) Read more at nation.com.pk ...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.