The first of 18 new F-16 aircraft for the Pakistan air force was unveiled Oct. 13 at a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth.
The lot of aircraft is named “Peace Drive I,” part of Lockheed Martin’s tradition of naming F-16 international sales programs with the word “peace.” Pakistan, represented by various officials at the ceremony, has ordered a total of 54 F-16s since 1982 and first operated Lockheed Martin aircraft in 1963 when it received C-130B airlifters.
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz was on hand to represent the United States, and Air Chief Marshal Rao Quamar Suleman, chief of the air staff for the Pakistan Air Force, accepted the first F-16 Block 52 aircraft on behalf of his nation. Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, and other officials were also present in Fort Worth. The Peace Drive I order includes 12 F-16Cs and six F-16Ds. The first aircraft, a two-seater F-16D, will be delivered to the U.S. government, acting as an agent for Pakistan in the foreign military sales process, in December. The remaining aircraft will be delivered in 2010.
Indian insist of manufacruring part of the aiircrafts it buy or at least assemble it . We need to do same . All Defence Equipment should be on Transfer of Technology and should be at least partly made in Paksitan
After all USA find a place to dump his discarded F-16. It is out of question to believe that USA have provided latest F-16 to Pakistan. The Pakistani Government is not celebrating the handing over of these out of date flying machines they are celebrating the commission / kick backs associated with the supply of parts. We should appreciate their long term plans.