ISLAMABAD, March 27: The Pakistan Air Force is likely to purchase about 70 F-16s of the latest Block 50/52 C and D type models costing about $2.4 to 2.8 billion, official sources said. Though the officials did not disclose the exact number of F-16s, each costing $35-40 million, being planned to be purchased, unofficial estimates based on previous fleet requirements of the PAF put the figure close to 70 planes.

“No number can be given at this stage. It will be decided in due course of time,” said a senior official while quoting Air Chief Kaleem Saadat.

When asked about media reports that Pakistan was looking forward to delivery of some two dozen F-16s, an official said: “Requirement is more than that.”

According to the officials, exact timeframe for the delivery could not be given at present as negotiations for the modalities were to be worked out.

The teams from Lockheed Martin, the manufacturers of the F-16s, would visit Pakistan and reciprocal visits would be made by the top officials to US to work out modalities and finer details of the deal. Pakistan would have to raise the money required for the purchase of the latest F-16s, the official said.

Part of the total cost is likely to be met from the five- year, $3 billion US assistance for Pakistan committed by Washington in 2003, half of which is for military purchases.

The final delivery process could take a minimum of two years after the made-to-demand manufacturing process starts.

Pakistan is looking forward to F-16 Block 50/52 C and D type with a capability to carry nuclear weapons, including single seaters and dual seaters, advanced avionics and weapons upgrades. In short, the latest version, an official said.

According to the US media, Washington’s decision to sell F-16s had come just in time for Lockheed Martin which was contemplating taking action to close the production line that employs about 5,000 workers, in case new orders for the jet did not come by this fall.

Lockheed is also reportedly looking forward to sell about 100 F-16s to India along with transfer of technology.

“This could place Pakistan in a position of buying spares for its new jets from India because Lockheed might close down the production line of this particular make to focus on newer models,” said an arms market watcher. But he also said two countries that have F-16s have never fought a war.

During the 1980s, the PAF received 40 F-16s under the deal named as “Peace Gate (PG)”. Deliveries under Peace Gate-I included six F-16s comprising two F-16As (Serial No. 82701-02) and four F-16Bs (Serial No. 82601-04) and follow-up support of $156 million. Deliveries under Peace Gate-II included 34 F-16’s of both F-16A and F-16B models and a follow-up support of $1 billion. The F-16s which never made to Pakistan included some 71 negotiated as part of PG-III and PG-IV deals.

Of the total 71 under the negotiated PG-III and PG-IV, the first ten under the PG-IV were delivered while the delivery of other 60 F-16s was stopped by the US during the 1990s after Pakistan had paid for them. Moreover, Pakistan had to pay for the storage of the falcon birds at the US Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Centre.

The sources said that the PAF initiated the programme for upgrading the F-16s at Aeronautical Complex Kamra after the US refused to supply the spares in the wake of Pressler Amendment and the post nuclear sanctions of 1998.

When asked if the funds already paid up for the F-16s would be used for the new deal, an official said that the previous payment was a separate issue and would be dealt separately.

If delivered after a minimum period of two years, the F-16 Block50/52 models would be an addition in the nuclear capable aircraft fleet of PAF which was already looking forward to delivery of Super 7 aircraft, a joint Pakistan-China venture.