Pakistan’s F-16 fleet gets $488m US support approval

The contract has been awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

By Web Assistant On May 2, 2026

WASHINGTON (Web Desk): The United States has approved a $488 million contract to provide long-term technical and engineering support for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet fleet, marking a significant development in defence sustainment cooperation.

The contract has been awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme and includes Pakistan among several allied and partner countries benefiting from the arrangement. The focus of the deal is the maintenance and support of APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems used in F-16 aircraft, ensuring long-term operational readiness and technical reliability.

The firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery and indefinite-quantity contract will cover radar sustainment, spare parts supply, engineering assistance, and technical support services. The work will be carried out in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2036. An initial $2.64 million has already been allocated from fiscal year 2026 Air Force and Navy budgets.

The programme spans multiple countries including Bahrain, Belgium, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand, Turkiye, and Pakistan.

Officials said the contract reflects Washington’s continued effort to maintain operational readiness of F-16 fleets across allied nations. The agreement also follows a separate proposed $686 million upgrade package notified in December 2025, which includes Link-16 tactical data systems, encrypted communications equipment, avionics upgrades, pilot training support, and logistical assistance aimed at improving interoperability with allied forces.

The upgrades are expected to extend the operational life of Pakistan’s F-16 fleet up to 2040, while enhancing safety, communications, and combat capability.

Pakistan has been operating F-16 Fighting Falcon jets since the 1980s under a defence cooperation framework with the United States. Cooperation faced interruptions during the 1990s due to sanctions but resumed after 2001, leading to renewed deliveries and continued sustainment programmes.