The Bush administration has proposed a long-awaited set of significant enhancements to Pakistan's air force in a potential $5.1 billion deal that includes three dozen new F-16 fighter aircraft, new weapons and upgrades to the South Asian country's existing fighter fleet.  

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the arm of the Pentagon that handles foreign military sales, said in a statement that Congress has been notified of the proposed deal, which opens the door for Pakistan to upgrade its existing fleet of 32 F-16A/B models, as well another 28 older models formerly flown by other nations that it may acquire.

If fully attained, the ensemble would considerably improve the ability of Pakistan's fighter fleet, which also operates hundreds of Chinese fighter aircraft that analysts say would have little utility in combat, as well as approximately 150 aging Mirage III and Mirage V fighters.

“This would revolutionize their capabilities just because of the sheer low quality of everything else,” said Richard Aboulafia, a defense aviation expert with the Teal Group, a consulting firm in Fairfax, VA.

Pakistan, which since Sept. 11, 2001, has assisted the United States in its counterterrorism efforts, is seeking 36 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft. Along with associated equipment and services, the F-16 sale alone could be worth $3 billion.

The proposed package, which Congress has 30 days to review, also includes sale of 60 Mid-Life Update Modification Kits for F-16A/B aircraft, a deal worth up to $1.3 billion. The proposed package also includes engine modifications worth $151 million and weapons worth $650 million.

“The aircraft will be used for close air support in ongoing operations contributing to the [global war on terrorism],” DSCA said in a statement, adding that the total package will not “significantly reduce” the qualitative or quantitative military advantage of Pakistan's arch rival and neighbor, India, with which it nearly went to war with as recently as 2002.

The sale -- which will extend the production run of the F-16 for prime contractor Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Company and generate orders for work at Raytheon, Boeing, BAE Advanced Systems and Northrop Grumman -- “will allow the Pakistani Air Force to modernize its aging fighter inventory, thereby enabling Pakistan to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations,” DSCA said in a statement.

Pakistan last ordered F-16s in 1989, placing an order for 71 new fighters. But in 1990 President George H.W. Bush suspended aid to the South Asian nation -- including the delivery of 28 fighters for which Islamabad had paid -- over concerns about the country's nuclear weapons program (the order for the remaining 43 was canceled). In 1998, the Clinton administration settled the deal by refunding about two-thirds of Pakistan's $658 million payment -- with cash and goods, including surplus wheat -- for the fighters.  

That experience left a bad taste in the mouths of many Pakistani officials. However, in the wake of the Pakistani government's post-Sept. 11, 2001, cooperation with Washington, the U.S. government has taken a number of steps intended to build confidence with military officials in Islamabad. In 2002, the United States resumed commercial sales of spare parts needed for its F-16s. In June 2004, President Bush designated Pakistan a major non-NATO ally. And over the past few years, Washington has either sold or given Pakistan C-130 cargo aircraft, surveillance radar, air traffic control systems and P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, as well as air- and submarine-launched anti-ship missiles.

The State Department, in March of last year, announced the United States would resume F-16 sales to Pakistan.

Islamabad last fall was working with the Defense Department on an F-16 proposal that included as many as 50 new aircraft. That deal was postponed in the wake of last October's massive earthquake that killed nearly 80,000 Pakistanis, as the nation diverted its resources to deal with the ensuing humanitarian crisis.

The deal announced today reflects a less expensive option that has been in the works for months.

InsideDefense.com in November reported that Pakistan was considering trimming its purchase of new fighters and buying second-hand aircraft and then upgrading them ( DefenseAlert , Nov. 9, 2005).

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram last week first reported that Congress had been notified of the pending deal, which could include an initial deal for 18 new F-16s, the paper reported.

Pakistan's current F-16A/B fleet, according to Aboulafia, is no more than 28 aircraft, which means the Pentagon is proposing a deal to upgrade more fighters than Islamabad currently flies.

“The mid-life upgrades are for current inventory that they have and for potential used aircraft that they might get,” said Jose Ibarra, a DSCA spokesman.

U.S. and European defense officials say the Pakistan air force is eyeing F-16s formerly owned by the Netherlands and Belgium.