The US has approved roughly $686 million in upgrades and technology sales to sustain Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, including avionics updates, 92 Link-16 data-link terminals and six inert Mk-82 bomb bodies. The package comprises about $649 million in support work plus $37 million in Major Defence Equipment, the DSCA told Congress on December 4. Analysts say the deal extends a 2022 maintenance relationship and could keep the fleet operational until about 2040; India is likely to view the move with concern amid recent cross-border clashes and Pakistan’s growing ties to China.
US Approves $686M F-16 Upgrade For Pakistan — A Signal To India?
F-16s perform aerobatic manoeuvres during a rehearsal for Pakistan Day parade, March 16, 2024 [Aamir Qureshi/AFP]
The United States has authorised roughly $686 million in upgrades and technology sales to sustain and modernise Pakistan’s fleet of F-16 fighter jets, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notification to Congress on December 4. The package includes avionics and software updates, secure tactical communications gear and limited training ordnance, and comes amid heightened India–Pakistan tensions after a brief but intense aerial clash in May.
What the Package Includes
The DSCA report says the sale is composed of approximately $649 million in sustainment and upgrade work for F-16 aircraft plus about $37 million in Major Defence Equipment (MDE). Major elements include:
- Avionics and Software Upgrades: Improved flight operations, navigation systems and electronic systems maintenance.
- Advanced IFF (Identification Friend or Foe): Enhanced systems to reduce misidentification in complex air environments.
- Link-16 Terminals (92 Units): Secure, real-time tactical data-link capability enabling exchange of text and imagery among aircraft, ships and ground units.
- Spare Parts and Repair Support: Logistics and maintenance to extend fleet serviceability.
- Six Mk-82 Inert Bomb Bodies: 500-pound training/test casings filled with ballast rather than explosives.
Pakistan’s F-16 Fleet
Pakistan is believed to operate about 70–80 serviceable F-16s, a mixed fleet that includes upgraded Block 15 airframes, former Jordanian aircraft and newer Block 52+ models. The F-16 Fighting Falcon, originally developed by General Dynamics and now produced by Lockheed Martin, first flew in 1974 and serves in around 29 countries.
“The F-16 deal remains a key part of the broader US–Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is why there has been continuity from President Biden to President Trump,” said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. “Both sides emphasise the fleet’s utility in joint counterterrorism operations in the region.”
Geopolitical Context And Reactions
The announcement is politically sensitive. India is likely to view the package with concern given the recent cross-border friction: armed attackers killed 26 people in Pahalgam in April, and a short aerial conflict followed in May, during which both sides used aircraft, drones and missiles. Pakistan said it deployed some 42 high-tech aircraft during the clashes, including F-16s and Chinese JF-17 and J-10 fighters; a ceasefire was announced on May 10.
Separately, Washington has been encouraging New Delhi to purchase more US defence equipment, even as some planned Indian purchases were put on hold and bilateral trade tensions have flared (including a tariff dispute earlier in the year). US officials have sought to reassure critics by saying the sale will not alter the basic military balance in South Asia.
Analysts note, however, that China now supplies the bulk of Pakistan’s weaponry. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data and independent analysts indicate China provided more than 80% of Pakistan’s arms since 2020 — underscoring Islamabad’s ongoing defence ties with Beijing even as it retains limited military cooperation with Washington.
Implications
The US frames the $686 million package as sustainment that will keep Pakistan’s F-16 fleet operational into the 2030s and likely through about 2040. For New Delhi, the timing and substance of the announcement are sensitive given recent hostilities and broader great-power competition in the region. For Islamabad, the deal helps preserve a key capability while it continues to diversify suppliers, notably with Chinese systems.
Overall, the package combines practical maintenance and upgrades with high-profile communications gear; Washington argues it does not change the regional military balance, but regional states will weigh the move alongside broader geopolitical trends and arms relationships.
