Eighteen F-16s for Pakistan

Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood has said that by December 2008, Pakistan would get eighteen F-16 fighters along with its technical-equipment, accessories, bombs, missiles and other required armaments.

Karachi, Aug 8 : Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood has said that by December 2008, Pakistan would get eighteen F-16 fighters along with its technical-equipment, accessories, bombs, missiles and other required armaments.

Addressing the launching ceremony of a book titled "PAF Over the Years" by Group Captain (retired) SM Akhtar Hussaini, he said that a sum of Rs 18 billion has been allocated to enhance the efficiency and latest warfare technology for Pakistan Air Force by 2019.

Mahmood said that Pakistan Air Force (PAF) was the only air defence-force across the world, which had the additional ability to design or assemble its own aerial warfares and equipment, and added that even the US Air Force does not have this capability.

He also said that eight JF-17 fighting thunder aircraft would be inducted into the fleet of PAF by the end of this year, and claimed that these aircrafts were better than F-16 to some extant.

PAF had a significant role in the country's defensive mechanism, The Nation quoted him, as saying.

ANI