Pakistan not to transfer F-16s technology to China

Jul 17, 2006, 12:49 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan said Monday that it would purchase 44 multirole F-16 aircraft from the United States but dismissed fears about a transfer of F-16 technology to a third country.

'We will not transfer technology of F-16s to anybody but, at the same time, hope that the US will also not violate the terms of agreement for delivery of the jets to Pakistan,' the chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Tanveer Mehmud Ahmad, said at a press briefing in Islamabad.

He was commenting on media reports that recently quoted US congressmen as expressing concern that Pakistan might transfer F-16 technology to China. Their fears have led committees in the US House of Representatives and the Senate to plan hearings on the sale, which has been approved by President George W Bush's administration.

Pakistan and China have close military ties and have jointly manufactured a JF-17 'Thunder' aircraft, which had its inaugural operational flight in May in the Chinese city of Chengdu.

Ahmad said Pakistan always adhered to the terms of agreements on procurement of military equipment with all countries, including the United States, adding there will be no change in this policy while purchasing the F-16s.

The fears by the US lawmakers followed admissions by AQ Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear-weapons programme, that he ran a nuclear-smuggling ring for years.

Ahmad denied that the Pakistan Air Force had asked the United States for transfer of technology of the F-16s. 'We are only interested in achieving capability of a complete overhaul of F-16 engines at our aeronautical complex,' he said.

Located about 80 kilometres north-west of Islamabad, the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex is also overhauling the whole range of fighter aircraft in the Air Force's inventory.

Ahmad, who assumed command of the Air Force early this year, said Pakistan had asked the United States to deliver 18 F-16s of the latest C and D versions and 26 used jets.

'The purchase of 18 brand-new F-16s will cost 2 billion dollars,' the air force chief said and expressed the hope that the jets might join the Air Force fleet after three years.

However, he did not disclose how much it would cost to buy the 26 used F-16s but said he hoped they could be put to use by the Air Force within 15 to 18 months.

He said Pakistan had also sought US help in upgrading its present fleet of 34 F-16s under a programme that will cost about 1 billion dollars.

At the same time, Ahmad said Pakistan was also exploring other sources to procure combat aircraft. 'But the reason to go back to the old source - the US - is that Washington has repeatedly talked of establishing a strategic and long-term partnership with Pakistan,' he said.