The Trump administration has notified Congress of a proposed USD 686 million F-16 upgrade package for Pakistan, triggering a 30-day review and drawing attention in India.
File image: A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet performs during Pakistan Day celebrations in Islamabad (Photo: IANS)
The Trump administration has formally notified the US Congress of a proposed USD 686 million upgrade package for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet, setting off a 30-day review period that is likely to be watched closely in New Delhi and scrutinised by several US lawmakers.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), in letters sent to committee leaders, said the US Air Force seeks to issue a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to Pakistan for “defence articles and services estimated to cost $686 million”.
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The notifications were dispatched to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, marking the first formal step in the potential transfer.
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According to the DSCA notice, the package comprises USD 37 million in Major Defence Equipment (MDE) and USD 649 million in additional software, hardware, and logistical support.
The MDE component features:
Beyond these, the proposal covers a wide range of non-MDE systems, such as cryptographic modules, mission-planning tools, Operational Flight Program modifications, avionics upgrades, Identification Friend or Foe equipment, test equipment, spares, publications, simulators, secure communications, and contractor engineering and logistics support, as per the notification.
The administration has argued that the upgrades will modernise Pakistan’s Block-52 and Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) F-16s, enhance safety, and keep the fleet operational through 2040.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by allowing Pakistan to retain interoperability with US and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts,” the notice stated. It added that refurbishment would also help address “critical flight safety concerns.”
The DSCA further emphasised that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” a standard assurance meant to address India’s long-standing reservations about US defence assistance to Pakistan.
Lockheed Martin, based in Fort Worth, Texas, has been identified as the principal contractor. The US government does not expect to deploy additional personnel to Pakistan for implementation and does not foresee any impact on its own defence readiness.
The proposal now moves into a 30-day Congressional review period. During this span, lawmakers can raise objections or seek clarifications. Arms sales to Pakistan usually face questions from both parties in the US, but similar proposals in recent years have gone ahead without Congress blocking them.
Because the package includes sensitive systems like Link-16, the review is also likely to be watched closely in India.
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