F-16 FIGHTING FALCON AIRCRAFT

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.

F-16 FIGHTING FALCON

 

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