Any govt in US-be it democrat or republican-would do wot (to them) serves american intersts in the best manner. If that means arming the enemy of ur best friend…then so b it…as long as it serves american interests.

The editor of AFM reported last year (in his article on F-7PG) that PAF F-16s went through a structural upgrade known as ‘falcon up’ locally in 1990s, and i have also come across additional reports mentioning that PAF F-16 engines have also been upgraded…Yahoo 25’s link is one such source. I think, any MLU for Pakistani F-16s (if authorised) will b mainly for avionics suite.

The article from Pak Observer is rather confusing (or so i thought), and i hope the following from The Nation should clarify some issues.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2004/15/index11.php

US indicates to sell 18 F-16 planes to Pakistan

KARACHI (PPI) – The United States which accorded Major Non Nato Ally MNNA status to Pakistan few months back, recently indicated to sell F-16 fighter aircraft to Islamabad, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Kalim Saadat disclosed Tuesday.
“The US has indicated to sell 18 F-16 fighter planes, as against our demand for 70. The US policy so far has been to give Pakistan economic aid and not military.
“The public opinion in Pakistan is still against the US, as people feel Washington wants to keep Islamabad weak.
“However, we are quite capable of defending ourselves as far as our adversary is concerned” he told a press conference on sidelines of International Defence Exhibition & Seminar IDEAS 2004 Pakistan at Export Centre in Karachi.
He said two US C-130 aircraft would be delivered to Pakistan by December next, followed by more at later stage.
Earlier in 1980s Pakistan could not make delivery of all 80 F-16s from the US, due to Pressler amendment.
Answering a question, Air Chief Marshal Kalim Saadat said US forces were deployed on forward bases of Pakistan Air Force in the war against terrorism. PAF squadrons were also deployed at forward bases, he added, and stated that no US forces were deployed on PAF’s main air force bases.
He said with US bases coming up in Central Asian Republics and Afghanistan, US forces intended to leave PAF’s forward bases soon. He said PAF was trying to acquire high technology planes, but this was not possible so far due to political reasons and other hurdles.
He said Pakistan and China had collaborated in the development of JF-17 Thunder medium fighter aircraft with better equipment, to replace PAF’s old Mirage planes. PAF pilots were carrying out tests and evaluation of JF-17 planes.
The small batch of initial production of 16 JF-17 aircraft will be completed by end December 2006, of which eight planes each will be used by PAF and Chinese peoples Liberation Army. This will be followed by serial production of these medium fighter planes, he added.
“We are negotiating with Sweden on possibility to acquire its fighter aircraft.”
Air Chief Marshal Kalim Saadat said while Pakistan was concerned over defence collaboration between India and Israel, but both these countries were sovereign and had right to have such cooperation.
“Our response is to continue defence cooperation with friendly states as before and reduce gap between PAF and Indian Air Force over next two to three years,” he stated.
Chief of Air Staff said PAF was not totally self reliant and dependent on foreign aviation industry, thereby remaining exposed to risks. Aviation related industry was capital intensive.
“We have compensation package for our trained staff so that they do not move to private aviation sector. We outsource some work to private sector.”
He commended contribution of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Air Weapons Complex and Pakistan Engineering Complex to the PAF over the years.
He said PAF has role in the war against terrorism and its planes were sometimes used in bombarding inaccessible Wana tribal area of the country, where terrorists were hiding.

Groo

You Pak-boosters really move your feet well. Ducking and dodging trying to turn even a tko punch into just a glancing blow. To bad all of your wild swinging only hits air.

Now all the speculation about Gripen was really just about Erieye? Is this the ask for the moon and hope for breadcrumbs strategy of arms procurement? Obviously Pakistan approached Sweden at the lower levels about Gripen and was again rebuffed – for the umpteenth time. Musharaff and the Pakistani dreamers here are trying to save face and say it was really only about the Erieye. Maybe if Pakistan is really lucky, Sweden might agree to sell some truck parts at concessionary rates.

Sir
Before i can answer ur rather pathetic and total insecurity ridden comments, i would once again like to ask you for some sort of evidence for the intensely drmatised illustration of mushrraf’s press conference that u presented in one of your earlier posts. 🙂

Musharaff grandstands by whispering Gripen and looking pleadingly at his Swedish host with his big brown eyes misting over. The Swede, on uncertain ground, as for the first time he has to discuss weapons with a counterpart (the norm being to leave this to lower ranked functionaries particulary when the answer is no), and embarassed at the wheedling tone in guest’s query, quickly consults his talking points and responds with sweet nothings to calm his difficult guest. However, to keep an irrationally exhuberant Pakistan from cashing in the family silver and sending him a personalized cheque for $4 billion, he publically states: (i) that there were no discussions on the Gripen (unless one characterizes Musharaff calling the Gripen pretty and shiny a serious discussion), (ii) any possible discussions would be part of a long process, (iii) and emphasizes the nature of Sweden’s arms control regime, thus politely telling Pakistan not to hold its breath.

This is the same “gameplan” Musharaff tried in Washington last year when he tried to publically raised the F16 issue with Bush even after he was privately told that there was not a chance in hell of his receiving those planes. Reports from his French visit were also similar.

Enough already.

Sir, unless im mistaken, Musharraf’s exact words were “Pakistan is looking for a high-tech aircraft. Gripen is one of several alternatives,”. I have also seen one or two reports which have stated that Islamabad might be interested in purchasing…and i can only assume dat u understand the meaning of might be

Now u did present a very dramatic picture of the whole event in ur post above. I certainly hope dat in ur next post u’d back it up with a video or photographic evidence or perhaps some other form of generally acceptable evidence. It would definitely be a sight (for many of us) to c Mr Musharraf looking at his swedish host pleadingly with his big brown eyes misting over and his wheedling tone, and the ebarassment felt by the host. If not, then i certainly hope u’d withdraw ur statement, which have massive potential to turn this fine thread into another flame battle ground.

PS. I’d b looking forward to ur evidence, im sure u have in ur pocession.

Thanks in advance.

Does anyone know if IAF has mangade to solve the issue about landing fees in Hawaii (i think it was)???

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=3&theme=&usrsess=1&id=46669

The editorial says…The air force is contemplating halving its initial order for indigenous Light Combat Aircraft.

Any more information about this???