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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan will get most advanced F-16 aircraft |
| 2006-12-13 |
| WASHINGTON — The US government has given an initial $78 million as part of a $144 million contract to Lockheed Martin for tasks related to the production of 18 new Advanced Block 52 F-16 aircraft for Pakistan. Earlier this year, the governments of Pakistan and the United States signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) agreeing to the purchase of 18 Block 52 F-16s. The LOA provides Pakistan an option for an additional 18 aircraft. The new aircraft will modernise the existing Pakistan Air Force fleet, bringing a robust and versatile defensive capability to the nation's military. The final Pakistan F-16 under this contract will be delivered in 2010, a company release said. As long as we have the software kill switches ... |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #13 The best I'd offer them would be our most advanced Brewster Buffalos |
| Posted by: Unains Ulise1126 2006-12-13 18:16 |
| #12 Based on things posted here, I was under the impression that Pakistan only has workable advanced toys so long as American technicians do the maintenance. In other words, they get to swank around with their shiny toys, which repatriate large amounts of the jizya we've been paying, but only so long as we're willing to go along playing pretend. Separate from the China issue, how wrong am I, O Rantburg experts? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-12-13 13:16 |
| #11 Next year there will be a mysterious crash of a Pak "F-16". Very little wreckage will be recovered and China's Chengdu will have a block-52 to study |
| Posted by: john 2006-12-13 12:51 |
| #10 This a real travesty. No, there are a lot of things the Chinese still want to know. They are offering $8 million on the open market for delivery of a functionimg P&W powerplant. They may have prints, but they still need to dissect a working copy. Same for fly-by-wire. They have prints but need to see all details up close to fathom how it really executes. Plus all the associated weapons suites. This is more than folly and stupidity by your US gov't. Give the funds to Lockheed if bribes are so important. Do no deliver weapons systems directly to the enemy. |
| Posted by: SpecOp35 2006-12-13 11:21 |
| #9 Stuck on stupid. |
| Posted by: SR-71 2006-12-13 09:12 |
| #8 Start worrying when: 1- Their pilots become a match for ours 2- They fly the F-22 |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-12-13 08:40 |
| #7 So, what are they buying these expensive aircraft with, our latest financial aid package? Why don't we just stop sending these traitorous maggots any foreign aid and simply give the money directly to our aviation sector as a subsidy? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-12-13 04:01 |
| #6 I am not against trade, just looking for a remote trigger, explosion, fire, acid, gas, little egineering malfunction... whatever flies under their noses? Maybe a combination of different approaches? I just want assurance when they head towards our boys, someone hits "the red button" as they disappear from radar, is that too much to ask? |
| Posted by: Dunno 2006-12-13 03:58 |
| #5 I am for total disengagement from Pakistan. Our aid has prevented four oppressed minorities from advancing a self-determination agenda. As for the F16s, I guess Pakistan needs them to prevent hot pursuits from Afghanistan. |
| Posted by: Sneaze Shaiting3550 2006-12-13 01:31 |
| #4 Steve, if they were getting F-22s I would worry. As for F-16's, I have no doubt that the Chinese already have a better set of drawings than the USAF. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-12-13 00:19 |
| #3 wanna bet they malfunction at disastrously inappropriate times when posed against us? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-12-13 00:18 |
| #2 The Russians reportedly have delivered two? advanced SU-27/30's to CHAVEZ - Two vs 18, hence Chavez still threatens and a mighty arms race now ensues. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-12-13 00:06 |
| #1 Why don't we just sell them straight to the Chinese? |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2006-12-13 00:03 |