India Shoots Down Pakistan's F-16: All You Need To Know About The Fighter Jet, Its Abilities

News18

08-05-2025

Last Updated:
EAM Jaishankar in 2022 had questioned why the Biden administration chose to approve a $450 million package for upgrading Pakistan's F-16 fleet.
In the September of 2022, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar lashed out at the former US President Joe Biden's administration for its decision to provide Pakistan with a $450 million package for what the Pentagon has called the 'F-16 case for sustainment and related equipment".
'At the end of the day… to say I am doing it for 'counterterrorism'… you are talking of an aircraft of the capability of F-16 (and) everyone knows where they are deployed. You are not fooling anybody by saying these things," Jaishankar had said at the time.
The $450 million US package offers lifetime support for Pakistan's F-16 fleet, with Lockheed Martin as the proposed contractor. It included upgrades, technical services and maintenance for aircraft and engines.
In May 2025, Jaishankar's remarks gained fresh relevance after India on Thursday evening shot down a Pakistani Air Force's F-16 fighter jet in Rajasthan's Ramgarh sector as Indian air defence units successfully intercepted projectiles fired by Pakistan which targeted cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan.
India neutralised Pakistan military's attempt to hit military stations in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur and some other locations with missiles and drones as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict.
Sirens and numerous explosions were reported in Akhnoor, Samba, Baramulla and Kupwara and several other places as the Indian military carried out a massive night aerial vigil along the border with Pakistan.
After the Indian military foiled the Pakistani attempts, the defence ministry said India remains 'fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and ensure the safety of its people".
Here's a look at Pakistan's F-16, its fleet and its capabilities:
Pakistan currently operates an estimated 75 F-16 fighter jets, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 2023 report. The country began acquiring F-16s in the 1980s under a deal with the United States, backed by the Reagan administration during the Soviet-Afghan war. Additional jets were later procured through separate agreements, including the purchase of 13 refurbished F-16s from Jordan in 2014.
The F-16s were used against India in the aerial dogfight that ensued between the two air forces on February 27, 2019, a day after India's airstrikes in Balakot. The Pakistani F-16 was brought down by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
As of 2025, the Pakistan Air Force has lost at least 10 F-16 jets in crashes, most of them in the 1990s. The incidents were caused by mechanical issues, bird hits and training errors. In one of the more high-profile cases, an F-16 went down during a Pakistan Day Parade rehearsal in March 2020, killing Wing Commander Noman Akram.
While supplying F-16s to Pakistan, the United States withheld several critical technologies to restrict the jets' offensive potential and safeguard sensitive systems.
Among the key limitations were the absence of source codes for mission computers, which meant Pakistan could not fully customise the aircraft's software or integrate non-US weapons.
Pakistan's F-16 fleet is equipped for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The jets can carry advanced missiles like the AIM-120 AMRAAM for aerial combat and precision-guided munitions for strike operations. They have a top speed of over Mach 2 and are fitted with modern radar and targeting systems. The aircraft are also capable of flying in all weather conditions and can be refuelled mid-air for extended missions.
But, the US also withheld advanced electronic warfare suites, long-range targeting and radar upgrades, and secure data link systems that would have allowed the jets to communicate with NATO or US platforms. Additionally, the F-16s were not configured for nuclear delivery, in line with American non-proliferation policies.
First Published:
May 09, 2025, 04:12 IST