US to provide F-16s spare parts, maintenance support.

ISLAMABAD -- The United States would provide spare parts and maintenance support system under the susteAnance package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet, which is required to maintain the operational readiness of aging F-16 fighter jets of Pakistan Air Force which it acquired from the United States over the past 39 years in different phases.

Credible sources told The Nation that both PaAkistan and the United States held several rounds of talks this year to finalise the maintenance and system support agreement and finally reached the agreement, which was approved by US adminisAtration. The Pakistan Air Force would be able to maintain its fleet of total 85 F-16 fighter jets of difAferent models with the supply of spare parts unAder a sustenance package by the US.

The under sustenance package for Pakistan's F-16s fleet, is now with the US Congress for apAproval which is expected to approve in the coming weeks. Last week, the US State Department had approved the potential sale of sustainment and reAlated equipment to...