Wikileaks: Pakistan has problem paying for U.S. security checks on F-16s

The F-16 deal of Pakistan and U.S. requires a U.S. security personnel at Shahbaz airbase and Islamabad to safe guard the F16 aircraft for five years. However, a WikiLeaks cable suggests Pakistan has problems paying the $150 million needed.

According to one  US embassy cable “The security notes also mandate a five-year, 24/7 US technology security presence for the F-16s. SAF/IA has determined that when fully in place, the US security presence should consist of 45 US personnel – 40 at Shahbaz (five US military and 35 contractors), and five in Islamabad (two US military, one US Government civilian, two contractors). The estimated cost of the US security presence is $30 million per year, or $150 million for the full five-year period.”

The F-16 aircraft are subject to security restrictions that the aircraft, armaments, related equipment and technical data need to be housed at a separate air force base which does not have “non-US/non-Pakistani origin personnel and aircraft.”

A January 2009 cable explained this further, stating that “there have been other US government concerns about illegal technology transfer relating to Pakistan’s co-production program with the JF-17 Chinese fighter aircraft.” The cables also note Pakistan’s difficulty in making payments for the security presence.  According to the October cable, Pakistan also had to make upgrades and security enhancements to the airbase, which it estimated would cost $210 million.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) said in public statements that the base was under Pakistan’s control and denied that there were American officers stationed there.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar told the Senate in January 2010 that the base had been used for “covert operations in Afghanistan two years ago” but the Shamsi, Pasni and Shahbaz bases were not being used by the US.

Source: The Express Tribune

F-16 Aircrew Training Devices for Pakistan

A contract to build and deliver two F-16C Block 52 Aircrew Training Devices (ATDs) to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been awarded to L-3 Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link). Both simulators, scheduled for delivery in 2013, will be installed and networked at the PAF’s Shahbaz Air Base, the company said Monday.

The two F-16C Block 52 ATDs will be supported by one mission support system. Each simulator will also have a dedicated instructor/operator station.

“These F-16C Block 52 Aircrew Training Devices will be built on proven and cost-effective common hardware and software designs that will enable L-3 Link to deliver a solution tailored to meet Pakistan Air Force training requirements,” said Leonard Genna, president of L-3 Link.

Pakistan Air Force’s F-16C Block 52 ATDs will support new pilot, pilot conversion and advanced skills training. F-16 Pilots will be able to practice takeoffs and landings, low-level flight and emergency procedures.

In support of more advanced skills training, F-16 pilots will be able to acquire and identify targets while accurately delivering a wide range of ordnance during simulated air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Source: Aero-News Network

Wisconsin ANG F-16 crashed

The pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing is safe after ejecting from the aircraft over Adams County June 7 during a routine training flight.

The pilot has been recovered south of Chester, Wisconsin and is being medically evaluated. The F16 aircraft has been located in Chester. Emergency responders are on the scene to secure the aircraft.

An Air Force investigating team has been requested to determine the cause of the accident.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon the first of the US Air Force multi-role fighter aircraft, is the world’s most prolific fighter with more than 2,000 in service with the USAF and 2,000 operational with 25 other countries. The F-16 was the first operational US aircraft to receive a global positioning system (GPS). The aircraft has an inertial navigation system, either a Northrop Grumman (Litton) LN-39, LN-93 ring laser gyroscope or Honeywell H-423.

Source: airforce-technology.com, U.S. Air Force

Washington may approve Taiwan’s F-16A/B upgrades soon

The United States may allow its contractors to upgrade Taiwan’s existing F-16 A/B jet fighters later this year or in 2012, according to a report carried in the latest issue of Defense News.

Cited analysts and pro-Taiwan lobbyists, the report said that the U.S. administration is expected to release the F-16 A/B upgrade package as a strategy to ease pressure from Congress to sell more advanced F16 C/Ds to Taiwan.

The upgrade deal would bring Taiwan’s F-16s to a standard broadly comparable to the F-16AM/BM flown by European air forces, which started life as F-16 A/Bs, the report said.

For a decade, Taiwan has been seeking a batch of F-16 C/Ds from the U.S. to upgrade its aging air arsenal. It remains unclear whether Taiwan can acquire the 66 F-16 C/Ds it wants since China has made it clear that it considers such a deal a “red line” that the United States should not cross.

In a rare demonstration of bipartisanship, the co-chairs of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.) published in late May a letter signed by more than 40 of their colleagues urging the Obama administration to approve Taiwan’s request to buy 66 F-16 C/D jets.

Selling the jets to Taiwan is a way to reassure governments who have questioned the U.S. commitment to the region and to remind Beijing that old alliances will not be traded away to appease a bigger trading partner, one editorial said.

 

Source: http://focustaiwan.tw

Senators want Pres. Obama to sell F-16s to Taiwan

Nearly half the Senate (45 members) surged President Obama on Thursday to authorize quickly the sale of F-16 jet fighters to Taiwan, a request that has been hanging for five years.

Taiwan says it needs the 66 planes to maintain a credible defense and provide leverage in negotiations with Beijing. U.S. agreement to the sale, worth billions of dollars, would anger China’s communist-led government and would set back improved U.S.-China relations.

“Without new fighter aircraft and upgrades to its existing fleet of F-16s, Taiwan will be dangerously exposed to Chinese military threats, aggression and provocation, which pose significant national security implications for the United States,” says a letter, signed by 45 of the 100 members of the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans.

Gary Locke, nominated to become U.S. ambassador to China, told lawmakers Thursday that no decision has been made on the sale, and the request for the F-16 C/Ds still is being evaluated by the Defense and State departments.He said China should reduce its military deployments aimed at Taiwan.

The Obama administration faces an awkward choice. It is obligated under U.S. law to provide Taiwan the means of self-defense. Approving the sale, however, could prompt China to cut military ties that the United States has worked hard to forge as a way of smoothing over tensions in the Asia-Pacific where China’s military buildup has caused widespread unease.

Source: Fox News