F-16 FIGHTING FALCON (GENERAL DYNAMICS)
Of the 40 F-16 fighter-bomber aircraft originally acquired by Pakistan, 32 remain in
service in 3 squadrons. Pakistan has 71 additional F-16s on order, but delivery has been suspended since 1990 by the United States. In early 1994 the Clinton Administration initiated consultations with Congress concerning a proposed one-time sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan. Delivery of the planes would be contingent on specific commitments from Pakistan regarding its nuclear program, including a verifiable cap on the production of fissile materials. When Pakistan declined this proposal, in September 1995 the Clinton Administration proposed revisions to the Pressler Amendment to facilitate cooperation with Pakistan n areas such as combatting terrorism and furthering US commercial interests in Pakistan. The US would not deliver the controversial F-16 aircraft or resume an official military supply relationship with Pakistan, but the President decided to sell the F-16 aircraft to other countries and return the proceeds to Pakistan.
Pakistan could use the F-16 bombers to drop nuclear weapons on visually acquired targets by improvising the necessary electronic wiring which is omitted from these export models.
GENERAL DATA
Country of Origin. USA.
Similar Aircraft. F/A-18 Hornet, MiG-29 Fulcrum, Mirage F1.
Crew. One; F-16B--two.
Role. Multirole ground-attack/fighter.
Armament. Cannon, missiles, bombs.
Dimensions. Length: 47 ft, 8 in (14.54 m).
Span: 31 ft (9.46 m).
DESCRIPTION
Wings. Mid-mounted, delta-shaped. Missiles are normally mounted at the wing tips.
Engine(s). One in body. Oval air intake under the center of the fuselage. Single exhaust.
Fuselage. Long, slender body, widens at air intake. Pointed nose. Bubble canopy.
Tail. Swept-back, tapered fin with square tip. Flats mid-mounted on the fuselage, delta-shaped with square tips, and a slight negative slant. Two belly fins.
USER COUNTRIES
Bahrain, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, South Korea, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Venezuela.
Sources and Resources
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/pakistan/aircraft/f-16.htm
Maintained by Robert Sherman
Updated Wednesday, May 27, 1998 1:43:28 PM
