We reported that Pakistan received two F-16s, even though Pakistani officials said they would hold off on a planned purchase of 80 new Vipers to save money for earthquake relief. The two recently delivered fighters were “gratis” from Congress, according to officials at Ogden Air Logistics Center. The ALC says the two F-16s were “excess defense articles” that they reconfigured to have the latest avionics and other upgrades approved for Pakistan. These two latest F-16s are more advanced than the ones currently flown by the Pakistan Air Force.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.