Three more F-16s added to PAF fleet

ISLAMABAD: Second batch of three F-16 C/D Block 52 high tech fighter aircraft arrived at PAF Base, Shahbaz in Jacobabad on Saturday. According to DPR (AIR), two more aircraft of the same category would arrive next week in Pakistan.Brigadier General Michael Nagata, Deputy Commander, Office of Defence Representative in Pakistan handed over the aircraft on behalf of the US Government to Air Marshal Mohammad Hasan, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) who accepted them on the behalf of the Government of Pakistan.Pakistan had signed a contract with the US Government in 2005-06 for the acquisition of 18 F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft. Under this arrangement, PAF would receive these state-of-the-art aircraft from the US Government in staggered batches.In this connection, first batch of three aircraft of same category had arrived in May, 2010.  The deliveries of the rest of the aircraft would be completed by December, 2010.The F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft is a high tech fighter aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art avionics suite and latest weapons with Night Precision Attack capability.
These aircraft are part of the bid by PAF to modernize and enhance its Air Defence capabilities. Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Hasan said that PAF desires to maintain peace with honour in the region. However, if required it would use these aircraft along with all capabilities at its disposal to defend the motherland. A number of PAF and US officials attended the ceremony – App