The US Air Force awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman for F-16 radar systems support, including for Pakistan. This contract emphasizes the ongoing US military support to Pakistan amid rising regional tensions with India.
Pakistan acquired F-16 jets from the US as part of the Peace Gate program in the 1980s. The latest contract focuses on long-term engineering and technical support of APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems.
Key facts about the contract:
- The work under this contract is scheduled to continue through March 31, 2036.
- An initial $2.64 million in fiscal 2026 funds has been obligated at the time of the award.
- The contract supports multiple partner countries under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
The US previously notified Congress of a proposed $686 million package to upgrade Pakistan’s F-16 fleet in December 2025. This upgrade package includes Link-16 systems, cryptographic equipment, and avionics upgrades.
Pakistan operates a fleet of approximately 50 F-16s, each worth at least $40 million. The upgrades aim to extend the operational life of Pakistan’s F-16 fleet through 2040.
Pakistani officials stated, “The upgrades reinforce the survivability and effectiveness of a core fleet asset that remains central to Pakistan’s conventional deterrence posture.” Meanwhile, a US defense official noted that this approval demonstrates Washington’s persistent willingness to sustain legacy F-16 Fighting Falcon capabilities in Pakistan.
The US maintains that these upgrades do not alter the basic military balance in South Asia. Yet, Indian officials express concerns over this development, viewing it as a reinforcement of Pakistan’s airpower.