ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is likely soon to get new radar systems and other related items from the US, costing a total of around $365 million, to boost up its air defence capabilities.

The nuclear specific Pressler sanctions imposed by the US had badly hit the old TPS-43 air defence radars and the automated air defence systems of Pakistan during the 1990s. However, the US is now willing to sell an up-graded version of TPS radars to the PAF on a request from Pakistan.

It is learnt that Pakistan requested the US for the sale of six AN/TPS-77 Air Surveillance radars, support equipment, spare-parts, technical data, personnel training, and contractor engineering and other related elements of logistics support.

A number of US government personnel would also be based in Pakistan through various stages of installation of the systems. The cost of the AN/TPS-77 radar systems alone is estimated to be $100 million.

Another system to be acquired by Pakistan from the US at a cost of $155 million include low technology, fixed site six Aerostat L-88 radars to monitor ground traffic and low flying aircraft along the western borders.

Functioning of the L-88 radar systems is conditional to assignment of 16 representatives of the US government and its contractors for annual programme management and technical reviews to Pakistan.

The Air Surveillance Radars (ASR) and Precision Approach Radars (PAR) for which Pakistan is to pay an amount of $110 million to the US are primarily meant to manage, monitor and control military air traffic by the PAF.

The sale of ASR and PAR radar systems to Pakistan is likely to improve safety of flight for coalition and Pakistani aircraft inside Pakistani territory. Moreover, it would enhance the PAF's technological capacity to support US government efforts.

During and after the Afghan war, the old TPS-43G radar system was employed on the western borders by the PAF's 400 Squadron for providing continuous top level air surveillance pictures from across the borders to higher echelons and also for controlling a number of "hot" Combat Air Patrol (CAP) missions.

The TPS-43G air defence radar system became the main victim of US sanctions and the unavailability of spare radars meant vulnerable gaps in the air defence system of the PAF. It is said the new radars would contribute to modernization of obsolete PAF radars.

Besides enhancing the PAF's air surveillance capabilities, the radars would enhance the foreign policy and national security of the United States by providing Pakistan Air Force with increased technological capacity to support the efforts of the US government.

According to the US policy framework, the sale of the AN/TPS-77 radars to Pakistan would not affect the basic military balance in the region. India is already in receipt of eight $100 million AN/TPQ-37 FIREFINDER counter battery artillery radars from the US.

This is in addition to a deal of one billion dollars for the purchase of Phalcon radar systems from Israel, giving India strategic advantage and surveillance insights over large parts of Pakistan.

The sale of AN/TPQ FIREFINDER radar systems by the US is said to provide India an increase in counter-battery artillery capability consistent with India's force planning and defence strategy.

The systems being acquired by Pakistan would not offset the regional military balance tilted heavily in favour of India as revealed by the military negotiations for radar systems by the two countries.