PAF inducts three F-16s received from US in its fleet

Islamabad, June 27 (ANI): The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Sunday formally inducted the first three of the 18 F-16 C/D Block 52 fighter jets bought from the US into its fleet at the Jacobabad air base.

PAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, US ambassador in Pakistan Anne Patterson and United States Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Norton Schwartz were present during the induction ceremony.

Speaking during the occasion, Air Chief Marshal Suleman said that the advanced jets would greatly enhance PAF's capability and prove to be of great help in anti-terror operations.

"Induction of these jets will mark beginning of new chapter in the PAF's technology; also, they will go a long way in Pakistan's defence from internal and external challenges," The News quoted Suleman, as saying.

The F-16 C/D Block 52 aircraft is a high tech fighter aircraft equipped with sophisticated state-of-the-art avionics suite, latest weapons with Night Precision Attack capability.

The remaining aircrafts would be delivered to Pakistan by the end of this year.

The delivery of the fighter jets is being made under a 1.4 billion dollar deal between Islamabad and Washington. Pakistan is also paying an additional 1.3 billion dollars for the upgradation of its existing F-16 fleet. (ANI)