The State Department approved a possible $699 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) request to Pakistan for eight F-16 Block 52 aircraft, equipment, training, and logistics support.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on Feb. 11.
The sale would include major defense equipment (MDE) of eight F-16 Block 52 aircraft (two C and six D models) with the F100-PW-229 increased performance engine and 14 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS). The MDE accounts for nearly $565 million of the total FMS.
Non-MDE requests include eight AN/APG-68(V)9 radars and eight (8) ALQ-211(V)9 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites (AIDEWS). The sale also includes spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support.
Principal contractors have not yet been selected to support the sale.
Pakistan would use the additional aircraft to sustain operations, meet monthly training requirements, and support transition training for pilots new to the Block 52, DSCA said.
The agency also said the FMS improves Pakistan’s ability to meet current and future threats.
“These additional F-16 aircraft will facilitate operations in all-weather, non-daylight environments, provide a self-defense/area suppression capability, and enhance Pakistan’s ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations,” DSCA said in a statement.
Implementation of the sale would not require the assignment of additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to Pakistan.