Article Posted on : - Jul 28, 2010

The F-16 fighter.

ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan has acquired sophisticated air-to-air missiles from the US for its newly inducted F-16 fighter aircraft, a move which will bolster its defence capabilities “manifold”, according to an official statement.

The first batch of AIM-120 Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles will be used with the new Block-52 F-16 C/D fighters of the Pakistan Air Force delivered by the US.

“The induction of these ‘beyond visual range missiles’ in the PAF’s inventory marks the achievement of another major milestone in the air force's developmental plan and “bolsters its defensive capabilities manifold,” said an official statement on Monday.

The capability also brings PAF at par with other modern air forces in terms of sophistication of its air-to-air arsenal, the statement said.

This is the first time the PAF has inducted BVR missiles.