Belgian Air Force sells 31 F-16s on parts market

Thursday, December 23, 2004 – The Belgian ministry of defence started the dismantlement of their 31 oldest F-16 Fighting Falcons. Since their retirement from service, these jets have been stored in Weelde, near Antwerp.

The aircraft wil be sold on the replacement parts market.

The oldest jets have been stored in Weelde for over ten years already. They will be transported to an armament depot in Rocourt, where they will be stripped down.

The first of three batchs of F-16s has been transported in November already, the remaining two batches will follow in January and February.

And a happy new year.

With JH-7A around…I doubt there is any need for FC-1.

Is there any news about the FC1?

If the PAF is investing so much in large numbers of FC-1s, why are they even still bothering to try and get F-16s?

A very intresting question. I think it has to do with the fact that they cannot get 150 fc1’s tomorrow. The Fc1 is being tested. Next year they start with first batch. It will take atleas 4/5 years to get the desired size and quality. F16’s are seen as intermediate not end solution. The f16’s is the most easy to absorbed. They have infrastructure, engineers and pilots.

Just a copy paste from Dawn. It is a difficult matter but somehow the writer is not a journalist without knowledge. Do not flame but take notice of this article.

AIR MARSHAL (RETD) AYAZ AHMED KHAN
Since fifteen years India has been engaged in a massive effort to sabotage the sale of F-16 fighters to Pakistan. Mr Pressler, an Indian lobbyist in the US Congress steered The Pressler Amendment came into effect in October 1989, and the US imposed a ban on the sale of F-16 fighters to Pakistan. By then Pakistan had paid US$ 658 towards the purchase of 110 F-16s.

The US Department of Defence had clarified that with the paid amount Pakistan could buy 28 F-16 fighters, subject to the lifting of US sanctions imposed by the Pressler Amendment. It is astonishing and disappointing that while US sanctions have been lifted, Pakistan has been given the major Non-Nato Ally status; yet there is no sign of supply of F-16 fighters to Pakistan.

One of the major reasons has been the subvertive role of the Indian embassy in Washington DC, whose hired lobbyists have successfully sabotaged Pakistani efforts to buy F-16 fighters from the US. That India has full time lobbyists, and has US Congressmen to sabotage sale of US weapons to Pakistan, especially F-16 fighters, provides evidence of a deep-rooted conspiracy and hostility to make Pakistan militarily week.

During his meeting with US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on December 9, Indian Defence Minister Pranab Mukerjee while describing Indo-US relations “enduring”, and defence relationship ‘strong’, warned US against the sale of F-16 fighters, to Pakistan. He warned Washington of repercussions on the ongoing peace process. Same day Indian external Affairs Minister Natwar Singh warned in the Indian Parliament, that “the government of India will not hesitate, and will ensure that our defence preparedness is not compromised in any way”. He refused to elaborate when asked by media men to clarify his threat. Same day Indian Foreign Secretary Navtej Sarna adding fuel to the fire said, “These arms sales would impact on the positive sentiment and goodwill for the United States in India.”

Donald Rumsfeld the US Secretary of Defence who met the Indian leaders on December 10, skirted the issue of the proposed sale of US arms to Pakistan, and kept mum over the sale of F-16 fighters. While Rumsfeld may have taken due notice of the black mailing tactics of the Congress government, but thought it advisable not to retort.

That New Delhi is actively engaged in anti-PAF F-16 lobbying activities in Washington, fully surfaced in a front page report of “India Abroad” on November 19, 2004. Aziz Haniffa the editor reported from Washington DC that, “India dumps Akin Gump over sale of F-16s to Pakistan. The controversy over what senior Congressional sources have described as “the credible prospect” of the Bush Administration considering the sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan continues to simmer with the Indian embassy not renewing the US$ 50000 a month contract of its lobbying firm Akin Gump over the F-16 issue.

The firm was accused as was the embassy of being apathetic to the prospect of the F-16 sale, and making no attempt to kill the move. Congressional sources eight (Indian spies and lobbyists in the US Congress) told India Abroad, “We still cannot get a straight answer from the Administration whether the F-16 sale is on or off. State Department officials and those at the Pentagon continue to be circumspect. Telling us, ‘no decision has been made”. The Indian embassy had been bombarded these past few weeks with letters and emails from the Indian-American community all saying that if the lobbying group cannot, then they would work aggressively to nip the F-16 sale in the bud.

Indian government should not waste money on ineffective American lobbying firms. The Indian-American community in the US has decided to take up the F-16 issue with the Bush Administration and with the US Congress. Pakistani American community in the US should take serious note of it, and do something to counter it. It is worrying that Indian lobbyists in the House i.e. US Congress and even in The White House have been subverting administration’s plans to sell F-16s and other weapons to Pakistan. Indian embassy officials in Washington DC have acknowledged that former US ambassador to India Robert Blackwill’s departure from the White House National Security Council as a Special Assistant to President Bush “was indeed a great loss for India”.

India had counted on him “as one of those loyals who would have vehemently advised Bush against any such sale of sophisticated weapons, especially F-16s to Pakistan. This is contrary to diplomatic norms and etiquette. The State Department and CIA should find out how New Delhi bribed him into such a role? US Representative Joseph Crowley N.Y.

Democrat and the co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, wrote a letter to President Bush last month seeking, clarity regarding the sale of F-16s to Pakistan. Crowley mischievously wrote, “These military aircraft are not suitable for fighting the war against terrorism within Pakistan!” Despite the torrent of protests by Indian lobbyists, and hysteria in New Delhi to block and scuttle sale of F-16 fighters and other weapons to Pakistan, Congressman Joseph Crowley the top Indian lobbyist says that, “The Bush Administration may very well push for the sale of F-16s to Pakistan shortly. The administration has not denied the potential for such a sale but kept repeating that “no decision has been made, even as it acknowledges that the issue is on the table”.

Crowley added that, “In as much as the State Department had designated Pakistan a major Non-Nato Ally, it could easily blindside both India and Congress and announce that such a sale is in the works”. Janes Defence Weekly in its last issue reports that,” Pakistani officials are negotiating the sale of new F-16 fighters to the Pakistan Air Force. This follows Bush administration’s notification to the US Congress on November 15, 2004 to its plans to sell $1.2 billion worth of sophisticated weapons for the use of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Army.

Reportedly President Musharraf in his meeting with President Bush discussed the potential purchase of F-16s. Pakistan wants to by up to 25 F-16s, with the price tag of $25 million each. India has cautioned, warned and threatened the Bush administration not to sell F-16s or other weapons to Pakistan. And if America does not listen to India and sells F-16s to Pakistan, it better be ready to face Indian anger.
In his two-hour meeting in Paris President Musharraf discussed with President Jacques Chirac access to European free market and purchase of French aircraft, avionics, electronic warfare and collaboration in defence with France. Musharraf’s successful visits to Washington and Paris are bound to bear fruit. Inshallah PAF will have new F-16’s as well as latest French fighters.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/dec-2004/16/columns4.php

I think it isn’t the reality. Why JH-7? It would be something if it was FC1 but even then it would be a paparazzi article…

The latest article we will hear is probably the LCA and Fc1 have same components. Oops. The martin baker… But Engines? Rusians and US engine have very different parameters. Just like tanks. Since when are Russians building durable engines?