Pakistan AF to induct 24 F-16s by next year end

Islamabad, Apr 4: Pakistan hopes to procure and induct at least 24 pre-used US-origin multi-role F-16s in the fleet of its air force within the next 12-18 months.

''These aircraft will arrive in batches for induction into the air force,'' sources told sources.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had signed a deal with the US to purchase 18 brand new C and D versions of F-16s and 24 pre-used A and B type F-16s last year.

PAF has been flying F-16s for the last 25 years. These jets had been purchased in 1982, almost three years after Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

''We hope to induct 18 brand new F-16s by the second quarter of 2010,'' said the sources.

The PAF is presently flying French Mirages, F-16s, Chinese-made F-7s, F-7PGs, A-5s, Karakoram-8 jet trainers, American transport aircraft, C-130s and Indonesian CASA CN-235s.

The air force inducted two multi-role JF-17 (Thunder) aircraft early last month. These jets have been jointly manufactured by Pakistan and China.

The PAF plans to induct six more JF-17s before the end of this year followed by commencement of serial production of Thunders in the country from next year.

The PAF is to induct 200-250 JF-17s by the year 2015.

UNI