The US government has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. The deal includes up to eight F-16 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin Corp, radar and other equipment valued at $699 million. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the F-16s would allow Pakistan’s Air Force to operate in all-weather environments and at night, while improving its self-defence capability and bolstering its ability to conduct counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.

India said it was “disappointed” by the possible sale. “We are disappointed at the decision of the Obama administration to notify the sale of F-16 aircrafts to Pakistan. We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Twitter.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency stressed, however, that “the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

F-16 Fighting Falcon

• The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) for the United States Air Force (USAF).
• Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976.
• The F-16’s official name is “Fighting Falcon”, but “Viper” is commonly used by its pilots and crews.
• Since May 2009, the Pakistan Air Force has been using their F-16 fleet to attack militant positions and support the Pakistan Army’s operations in North-West Pakistan against the Taliban insurgency