Article Posted on : - Dec 30, 2009

The F-16 fighter.

ISLAMABAD (BNS): Pakistan will receive 18 new F-16 fighter aircraft from the US in July 2010, the country’s air force chief has said.

The multi-role combat aircraft would be equipped with several new weapons, Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman was quoted as saying by APP news agency.

In October this year, US’ Lockheed Martin had unveiled the first F-16 Block 52 aircraft it is designing for Pakistan.

With the addition of 18 new F-16s, the total number of the aircraft in Pakistan Air Force’s arsenal would go up to 54.

PAF had received its first F-16 in Block 15 F-16A/B configuration in 1982.

Meanwhile, the country is holding talks with China to modernise its air force, Suleman said, adding that Pakistan is also slated to get surface-to-air missile system by the end of next year.