By Bharat Lather
12 May , 2016
F-16s carry a lot of symbolism for Pakistan. The narrative built around F-16s allows Pakistani military to send a signal to the public of its modern capabilities (such as smart bombs, night vision, BVR missiles), while the politicians can showcase their ability to extract goodies from the US. It is something the US officials understand rather well. Moreover, for USA; F-16s acts as their foreign policy tool to have its leverage over Pakistan. In India’s context, it is a diplomatic victory. India’s influence in USA is proving to be quite effective in isolating Pakistan as well as denying it from acquiring highly sophisticated F-16s. This is not the first time it happened with Pakistan. Last year, India once again defeated Pakistan diplomatically, when India’s influence prevented Sri Lanka from acquiring 8 JF-17s from Pakistan; breaking the dream of Pakistan to find its first ever customer for JF-17s.
An era of Cold War
The history of F-16 deal, between US and Pakistan goes back to early 1980s, when Pakistan was an important military ally of USA. In 1979, Pakistan’s military dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq was provided intelligence information that India wanted to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear facilities at Kahuta. He immediately relayed this information to Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim, his closest confidant and also the deputy chief martial law administrator. Shamim was among a few four-star officers who had played a key role in developing Pakistan’s clandestine nuclear arms program. Air Marshal Shamim responded with the plea that it was necessary to procure supersonic fighter jets to keep the Indian planes at bay. The air chief told Gen Zia that since Kahuta was in close proximity to the Indian border, the Indian air force had the benefit of time.
…the IAF’s fighter pilot-to-cockpit ratio has declined to less than one pilot per aircraft (0.84) against a sanctioned strength of 1.25 in contrast to 2.5 of Pakistani Air Force. Thus, the IAF is afflicted by both lesser fighter aircraft and a pilot shortfall.
It was therefore decided to expedite efforts to acquire F-16s, for which talks with the United States immediately went underway. After 2 years of long negotiations as well as by exploiting the Afghanistan issue, so as to counter Soviet threat, the United States agreed to supply the F-16 jets. President Ronald Reagan exercised executive authority, despite opposition from Congress, to agree to the sale of F-16s to Pakistan in order incentivize Pakistan’s assistance to the United States in Afghanistan. The first batch of F-16 fighters, which involved 6 F-16s A/B came to Pakistan in 1983, followed by 34 more F-16s A/B from 1983-87.
With the Soviet Union’s defeat in Afghanistan in 1988, U.S. reliance on Pakistan quickly waned. The Pressler Amendment came into effect in 1990, as a result of which the United States slapped sanctions on Pakistan on account of the country’s undeclared nuclear weapons program and canceled the supply of 28 F-16s after the first 40 fighters were received by Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The PAF was hit with financial constraints during the 1990s, and hardware restrictions were imposed on it by the US and its Western allies due to Pakistan’s nuclear program. Specifically, the refusal by the US to deliver 28 F-16s despite receiving a hefty price of $685 million hit the steady development of the PAF.
9/11 terrorist attacks and beyond
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C., refocused U.S. interest in the region and established Pakistan as a central cog in the U.S. war against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. For its commitment to support U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the George W. Bush administration agreed to release the previously blocked F-16s to Pakistan, refurbish the country’s existing F-16 aircraft worth approximately $2.1 billion, and sell Pakistan new F-16s Block-50/52 aircraft along with 500 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) missiles worth approximately $3 billion in 2006. The first three F-16C/Ds were delivered in June 2010 with the rest were inducted into the PAF by the end of 2012. US also gave 14 used F-16s to the PAF in 2012.
Pakistani air force can’t compete with the Indian air force in terms of numbers, but it certainly can in terms of quality, through its F-16s.
In February 2014, Pakistan announced that it is buying an entire squadron of 13 F-16 A/Bs from Jordan. Delivery of the F-16s block A/B aircraft to Pakistan was completed last year. Had the US Congress not put the ban on subsidized F-16s; Pakistan would have got eight new Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to Pakistan, will add to Pakistan’s fleet of 76 existing “Vipers/Falcons”. This would further boost country’s existing fleet of 18 advanced Block 52 Vipers. The rest of the Pakistani F-16 fleet consists of modified A/B-model jets that have been upgraded to Block 15 MLU (Mid Life Update) standard, which bring those aircraft, almost to the same capability as the newest Block 52 jets.
Comparison between IAF and PAF
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s arch-nemesis India’s air force shrinks by the day as planes age out and squadron are disbanded. According to the report of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense, the IAF’s fighter fleet has fallen to a record low of 33 squadrons against an authorized strength of 42 squadrons. Moreover out of these 33 squadrons, more than 50% of them consists of obsolete squadrons i.e. 11 squadrons of MIG 21(1960s) and MIG 27(1970s), 6 squadrons of Jaguars (1970s) and 2 squadrons of Dassault Mirage 2000 (1980s) etc. India’s most reliable fleet of Su-30MKi’s consists of 11 squadrons, but it was quite alarming, when India’s autonomous auditing agency Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported in Indian Parliament on Dec. 18, 2015, that Su-30MKI aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) suffer from poor serviceability or operational preparedness, which is just around 55 percent against the prescribed norm of 75 percent.
On the other hand, Pakistan currently possesses around 400 fighter aircraft consisting of F-16s, JF-17s (Mark 1, 2), Chengdu F-7s, Dassault Mirage-3 and Mirage-5 fighters. The story does not end here; the IAF’s fighter pilot-to-cockpit ratio has declined to less than one pilot per aircraft (0.84) against a sanctioned strength of 1.25 in contrast to 2.5 of Pakistani Air Force. Thus, the IAF is afflicted by both lesser fighter aircraft and a pilot shortfall.
…the current F-16s fleet of Pakistan has provided them for the very first time with the most lethal BVR AMRAAM 120C5 missiles, which happens to be more superior to missiles of Su-30MKi’s (Astra 20-80km), as well as of Indian MIGs R-73(40km) and R-77(80km).
However, India has finalized the deal to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault aviation of France after negotiation teams from either side narrowed down their differences. New Delhi has agreed to pay 7.89 billion Euros ($9 billion) for the deal. These 36 Rafales would definitely provide much needed break-through to counter aerial threat from Pakistan, particularly against its strong fleet of F-16s; but IAF still needs 5 more squadrons of Rafale type jets to fight a “two front-war”.
Su-30MkI’s Vs F-16s
Pakistani air force can’t compete with the Indian air force in terms of numbers, but it certainly can in terms of quality, through its F-16s. Even India’s most reliable fighter fleet of Su-30Mki’s, can’t match the highly superior capabilities of F-16s. The Su-30MKI (like all other Flanker variants) is much bigger and hotter, and therefore much easier to detect visually and beyond, with infrared (thermal) sensors and with radar, and can be easily shot down by F-16s AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile). Su-30Mki is much heavier, and therefore is far less capable of transitioning from one maneuver to another.
On the other hand, F-16s are much smaller, lighter, highly maneuverable, and have a much smaller infrared (thermal) signature than the Su-30, making F-16s extremely less vulnerable from detection in beyond visual range. Being lighter, they can also transition from one maneuver to another far easier than the Su-30 can. F-16s, further offer their pilots’ full, unobstructed 360 degree horizontal view from the cockpit, but unlike the Su-30MKI.
So a PAF pilot flying F-16 can sneak up undetected upon the Su-30MKI from the rear and shoot him down unaware, but the reverse is not the case.
In terms of speed also, F-16s are superior to Su-30Mki’s. The speed of Su-30Mki is close to Mach 2, whereas the speed of F-16 is more than Mach 2. The combat range of Su-30MKi is 3000km, whereas of F-16, is 4220km. Also, they spend far, far less time in maintenance than the Su-30MKI’s. Moreover, the current F-16s fleet of Pakistan has provided them for the very first time with the most lethal BVR (Beyond Visual Range) AMRAAM 120C5 missiles (105km and
Pakistan had earlier reached an understanding with the US for buying eight F-16 planes. Under the deal, Pakistan was required to pay about $270m from its national funds. The US was supposed to provide the rest from its Foreign Military Financing (FMF) fund.
A single F-16 carries 6 air-to-air missiles, 2 air-to-surface missiles (smart bombs), iron bombs etc. It is capable of delivering a nuclear bomb too. Furthermore, The F-16C/D multi-role fighters can fly deep inside enemy territory, deliver precision guided munitions (smart bombs) in non-visual conditions and defend itself against enemy aircrafts even in day and night, adverse weather.
The PAF F-16s have superior electronic warfare capabilities and the contemporary air battles rely more on EW capabilities to beat an enemy combat plane in a one-on-one dogfight. The electronic warfare (EW) capabilities of F-16s are so superior, that it went on to defeat even 5th Generation F-35 fighter aircraft of US in a one-to-one mock dogfight last year. Due to superior EW (electronic warfare) capabilities of F-16s, there is a strong possibility that some enemy’s F-16s would sneak in through the air defense measures in place. In such a scenario, the enemy planes could wreak havoc on the Indian troops and vital assets on the ground.
Ban on subsidized F-16 Fighter jets
With the American war effort in Afghanistan vastly diminished and the need to rely on Pakistan for supply routes virtually eliminated, Pakistan is learning that it has neither any friends in the US Congress willing to release funds for the sale of eight subsidized F-16s, nor apparently anyone in the White House who considers it important enough to lobby Congress on behalf of Pakistan. US State Department has said that Pakistan will have to pay from its own funds if it wants to buy F-16 fighter jets. Pakistan had earlier reached an understanding with the US for buying eight F-16 planes. Under the deal, Pakistan was required to pay about $270m from its national funds. The US was supposed to provide the rest from its Foreign Military Financing (FMF) fund.
But during a congressional hearing, US lawmakers made it clear that they would not allow the Obama administration to use US funds for the deal. The latest announcement practically kills the deal and Pakistan may find it difficult to buy the planes at two and a half times more than the agreed price.
F-16s carry a lot of symbolism for Pakistan. The narrative built around F-16s allows Pakistani military to send a signal to the public of its modern capabilities, while the politicians can showcase their ability to extract goodies from the US.
United States decision to ban subsidized F-16s for Pakistan might prevent it from acquiring these jets would do more harm than good by paving the way for Russia to sell its Su-35 Flankers to Pakistan, which would eventually allow Russia to increase its influence over Pakistan and so on in the Middle East region. Russia is steadily increasing its influence in the Middle East region, by arming Iran with S-300 Surface-to-Air missile (SAM) systems; and is also planning to sell its Su-30 fighter jets to Iran. On the other hand, Pakistan and Russia are already in talks about the delivery of Su-35 fighter jets after both sides agreed upon the delivery of the highly sophisticated Mi-35M attack helicopters.
F-16s carry a lot of symbolism for Pakistan. The narrative built around F-16s allows Pakistani military to send a signal to the public of its modern capabilities (such as smart bombs, night vision, BVR missiles), while the politicians can showcase their ability to extract goodies from the US. It is something the US officials understand rather well. Moreover, for USA; F-16s acts as their foreign policy tool to have its leverage over Pakistan. In India’s context, it is a diplomatic victory. India’s influence in USA is proving to be quite effective in isolating Pakistan as well as denying it from acquiring highly sophisticated F-16s. This is not the first time it happened with Pakistan. Last year, India once again defeated Pakistan diplomatically, when India’s influence prevented Sri Lanka from acquiring 8 JF-17s from Pakistan; breaking the dream of Pakistan to find its first ever customer for JF-17s.
Conclusion
The recent F-16 deal is already in jeopardy and might eventually prove to be “the last nail in the coffin”, for US-Pak ties. It is definitely a major setback when on-again, off-again US-Pakistan relations were starting to recover from the many debacles of 2011- the killing of two Pakistanis by a CIA security officer Raymond Davis, on a Lahore street. U.S. special forces (Navy SEALs) operation in Abbottbad to kill Osama bin Laden, U.S. attack on a Pakistani base at Salala that killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers etc.
…China had never provided Pakistan with any highly sophisticated military hardware, that can actually help Pakistan to modernize its military.
Moreover, the US is increasingly worried about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. No doubt, that Pakistan had been betrayed and abandoned twice by USA in 1965 and 1971 wars, and been used again by USA for its own objectives to counter Soviet threat (1979-88).
But the fact is that, USA had supplied Pakistan with the world’s most capable 4th Generation fighter aircraft i.e. F-16s, which they can never afford without subsidized price, along with continuous military and economic aid ($20 billion aid, since 2001) given by USA.
Furthermore, providing Pakistan with sophisticated missiles (Harpoon, Hellfire, Sidewinder and AMRAAM), Self propelled howitzers, armored personnel carriers, P3C Orion surveillance aircraft, Cobra attack helicopters, C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, high-tech radars, radio sets night goggles etc; Pakistanis have only themselves to blame due to their lack of adequate action against Haqqani network that is always involved in creating instability in Afghanistan as well as in targeting US troops. It was recently revealed that Pakistan’s ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) have funded Haqqani network in 2009 to attack a CIA camp on its border with Afghanistan that killed seven American agents and contractors and three others.
On the other hand, apart from the historical agreement to provide Pakistan with 8 Yuan class highly sophisticated submarines ($5bn), China had never provided Pakistan with any highly sophisticated military hardware, that can actually help Pakistan to modernize its military.
Pakistan’s military continues to be totally dependent upon USA, for its military modernization…
Pakistan’s military continues to be totally dependent upon USA, for its military modernization, whether it was in late 1950s when USA provided Pakistan with highly superior F-86 Sabre aircraft, F-104 Star fighters and M-47/48 Patton tanks or in the 21st century wherein Pakistan got F-16s. Apart from F-16s, Babur cruise missiles and a handful of Khalid class AIP (Air Independent propulsion) submarines, Pakistani military doesn’t have much to offer in conventional war; which have automatically forced Pakistan to opt for non-conventional (nuclear) weapons and advancement in missile technology.
Therefore, it has always been a blessing, to be an ally of USA, for an economically weak country like Pakistan; that continues to be riddled with poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, home grown terrorism, separatism, electricity shortage, GDP growth of only 3% and a debt of approximately $160 billion dollars.
© Copyright 2016 Indian Defence Review
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