Article Posted on : - Aug 05, 2011

F-16 combat aircraft

ISLAMABAD (PTI): The US Defence Department has awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, one of world's biggest defence production firms, a USD 42.3 million contract to provide 10 additional upgrade kits for Pakistan's F-16 aircraft, a media report said Thursday.

The contract has been awarded under the Foreign Military Sales programme, Pakistan's state-run news agency Associated Press of Pakistan said.

Lockheed Martin will provide upgradation kits for the Pakistan F-16 A/B Block 15 Aircraft Enhanced Modernisation Programme.

Meanwhile, the Express Tribune in a report said the package includes 18 panel "simuspheres", logistic support up to 21 months of which 12 months on-site and nine months on-call support will be provided.

Various related hardware and software systems are also included.

Incidentally, Pakistan had earlier ordered 50 JF-17 jets from China, its largest aircraft provider.

They are due to be delivered in six months, a statement from the Defense Ministry of Pakistan said.

Way back in June 2010, US delivered the first batch of Block-52 F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Pakistan.

Pakistan paid USD 1.4 billion for the jets and an additional USD 1.3 billion for the up gradation of its previous fleet of the fighter jets, the report said.