Pakistan receives Four more F-16 Fighter Jets
July 28, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan received another batch of four F-16 fighter jets from the United States, marking the completion of a package of U.S. delivery since 2005.
Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey, acting commander of the U.S. Central Command, handed over the four F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood Ahmed at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Mushaf.
Tanvir said that the batch of aircraft will significantly augment its combat capability in defending the aerial frontiers of Pakistan.
The air chief said the Pakistan Air Force would remain vigilant for the defence of the nation by ensuring the highest level of combat readiness. The newly delivered aircraft would significantly augment its operational and combat capabilities.
The US embassy said in a statement that the US government provided the aircraft to Pakistan at no cost except for transportation expenses.
With the handing over of the four jets, the delivery of 14 upgraded F-16 aircraft has been completed. Earlier the US had agreed to give Pakistan these aircrafts under the Foreign Military Sales Programme, which was singed in 2005.
The first two F-16s were delivered in December 2005, two more in July 2007, two in February 2008 and four in June 2008.
Pakistan received the fighter jets just days after the U.S. government proposed shifting 230 million U.S. dollars from its counter-terrorism aid package to Pakistan to help the country upgrade its aging F-16 fighter jets.
The US embassy said in a statement that the US government provided the aircraft to Pakistan at no cost except for transportation expenses. "The four aircraft presented are valued at approximately $6.4 million each," it said.