Pakistani F-16 fleet

Here’s my take on the Pakistani F-16 fleet. I checked World Air Power Journal Volumes 5, 13, and 24. Volume 5 details the F-16, Volume 13 the Pakistani Air Force, and the Volume 24 foreign F-16 operators. AIM-7 capability is not mentioned anywhere, and WAPJ has been, in my experience, quite thourough in describing the weapons available to aircraft in specific air forces. They did mention the R.530 arming PAF Mirages, for example. I did discover that PAF F-16’s were fitted with ALR-69 RHAW gear, not the ALR-46 that the US wanted to sell them, being less capable and therefore less sensitive. Kudos to the PAF for sticking it out and getting what they wanted in that respect.

As far as PAF F-16 kills, WAPJ credits them with the downing of 3 Su-22’s, an Su-25, 2 MiG-23’s, and an An-26. One of the aircraft also managed to down his own wingman in a dogfight. The previous aircraft are either Russian or Afghan. The 21 November 1988 An-26 kill is interesting because it is listed as the first time a PAF pilot was given the authority to down a non-combat aircraft. Not one PAF F-16 is listed as having been downed by an enemy aircraft.

All of these kills were either AIM-9L or 20mm kills, leading me to still believe that there really are no AIM-7s in Pakistan.

PAF F-16 units are listed as being the 9 “Griffins”, 11 “Arrows”, and 14 “Shaheens” aircraft.

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