ISLAMABAD, July 5: Pakistan has purchased a fleet of Mirage fighter jets and spare parts from Libya, says an air force spokesman.

"Libya had a Mirage fleet that was grounded for over a decade. We have purchased that fleet at a very reasonable price," Air Commodore Sarfraz Khan said on Monday.

"The deal has been finalised, the shipment has started." Air Commodore Khan did not specify the price or the number of aircraft in the fleet, but press reports suggested the purchase included 50 jets and 150 engines.

All the jets will be scrapped for spare parts to maintain the country's existing Mirage fleet. "The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is going to reduce the Mirages to spares and use them in maintaining our already existing fleet." -AFP