Pakistan May Have To Phase Out US-Supplied F-16 Fighter Aircraft Due To Engine Issues
Over the last three years, dozens of F-16's engines have been rejected, primarily due to technical faults, wear from years of service, and a crippling shortage of spare parts
Pakistan may have to gradually phase out the US-supplied F-16 fighter aircraft—once considered the pride of Pakistani Air Force.
Pakistani F-16s are grappling with serious crises, which means in the coming years, the Pakistan Air Force will be forced to ground its entire fleet.
News18 has reliably learnt that Pakistan's Air Force is confronting a substantial operational strain due to persistent engine reliability issues affecting its aging F-16 fleet.
The F-16s, long regarded as the backbone of the PAF's aerial capability, depend on Pratt & Whitney F100 engines—specifically the F100-PW-200 and the F100-PW-229. Over the last three years, dozens of these engines have been rejected, primarily due to technical faults, wear from years of service, and a crippling shortage of spare parts.
The reliability crisis is compounded by the United States' strict export controls governing the sale and supply of OEM spare parts. Recent financial difficulties have led to delayed or suspended payments owed to the US Foreign Military Sales programme, which, in turn, has halted the delivery of critical engine components and maintenance kits to Pakistan. This has pushed Pakistan's only advanced, all-weather multirole fighter jets towards potential grounding and limited their availability for operational deployment—a severe blow to national air defence.
The core of the issue lies not only in the advanced age and wear of Pakistan's F-16s, but also the inflexible restrictions imposed by the US, both in terms of monitoring their use and in strictly regulating the flow of replacement parts. Under the most recent US-Pakistan agreement, the F-16s are subject to close American oversight, permitted to operate only from designated bases and explicitly restricted in their role. This further aggravates the challenge of keeping the fleet airborne since any deviation or friction in this arrangement can prompt delays in logistical flows and, by extension, reduce operational readiness.
Operational consequences are serious: dozens of F-16 airframes are grounded at any time awaiting repairs or parts, eroding the PAF's ability to maintain effective patrols or respond quickly to crises. The operational gap is now sparking a greater reliance on the JF-17 Thunder, a jointly developed Sino-Pakistani combat jet. However, the JF-17, powered by Russian RD-93 engines, is also struggling with its own maintenance and spare parts issues due to sanctions on Russia and reported technical limitations, leaving it an imperfect substitute.
Ultimately, Pakistan is now caught in a strategically vulnerable position, with the operational readiness of its premier fighter force diminished by aging technology, insufficient access to spare parts, and financial as well as geopolitical hurdles. Without a reliable solution to its F-16 engine woes—either through fresh US cooperation or a viable alternative—the PAF faces an untenable strain that limits its deterrence and the flexibility crucial to its national security posture.
Pakistan Defence Procurement from China & Turkey
UAV and Drone Procurement via NASTP
The PAF, through the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park (NASTP), is actively expanding its unmanned aerial capabilities. Procurement is being managed via M/S Gwalpha Tech Pvt. Ltd., a domestic company handling integration and sourcing of aerospace systems.
These procurements reflect PAF's growing emphasis on autonomous platforms for intelligence gathering and precision strikes. The involvement of a local company under NASTP highlights Pakistan's move toward domestic capacity building in defence tech.
Defence Procurement from China (NORINCO)
Pakistan's long-standing defence partnership with China continues with large-scale procurement of artillery, armoured support systems, and ordnance. NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation) is the primary supplier.
This procurement strengthens Pakistan Army's long-range artillery and battlefield mobility while reinforcing dependence on Chinese platforms for mechanised warfare. The integration of support systems enhances operational longevity of Chinese equipment like the VT4 MBT.
Defence Collaboration and Procurement from Turkey
Pakistan's strategic defence ties with Turkey have expanded across naval, aerospace, and drone technologies. The partnership is marked by co-development, technology transfer, and joint manufacturing initiatives.
Turkish platforms like the MILGEM corvettes and Bayraktar drones offer Pakistan critical capabilities in naval operations and unmanned warfare. The stalled T-129 deal highlights the limits of cooperation under US export control, but ongoing industrial collaboration underlines long-term potential in co-production.
Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
tags :
China F-16 fighter jet pakistan turkey United states
view comments
Location :
Islamabad, Pakistan
First Published:
August 02, 2025, 16:50 IST
News world Pakistan May Have To Phase Out US-Supplied F-16 Fighter Aircraft Due To Engine Issues
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Odias in US express concern over 25% tariffs on India
Bhubaneswar: The US's sweeping 25% tariffs on Indian exports have sparked concern among the Odia diaspora in North America, with professionals and entrepreneurs warning of far-reaching economic fallout. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Calling the move short-sighted, they fear it could fuel inflation in the US, hurt bilateral trade, and strain ties between the two nations at a time when global cooperation is critical. "The tariffs remind me of Kalidasa's branch-cutting metaphor. Experts feel it will harm the US more than India," said Debashis Sahoo, associate professor of computer science, engineering and paediatrics at the University of California, San Diego. Tariffs can lead to inflation by increasing the cost of imported goods and raw materials. When businesses face higher input costs due to tariffs, they often pass these on to consumers in the form of higher prices. "The prices of clothes, diamonds, and pharmaceuticals imported from India will increase, and consumers will end up paying more. However, the final effect still needs to be studied," said Akshaya Mohanty, a businessman from Rhode Island. Sanjay Dalai, an IT professional, said, "The tariffs will hurt US companies sourcing intermediate goods from India, such as automobile parts and IT hardware. Indian exporters will also suffer, particularly in sectors like steel, aluminium, engineering goods, textiles, and automobile parts." Dalai said that the move could adversely affect US-India relations, especially at a time when cooperation is crucial in technology, defence and critical minerals. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sahoo said that if India imposes retaliatory tariffs, it could further harm US exporters by restricting access to key markets. "Together, these effects could weaken America's economic competitiveness and slow down growth," said Sahoo. He added that the resulting price hike is likely to fuel inflation and reduce consumer spending.
India.com
43 minutes ago
- India.com
Pakistan drops a shocker over Iran's nuclear programme, decides to..., US president Trump might...
New Delhi: Iran has got Pakistan's support on its nuclear programme as Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif said that he supports Iran's right to develop nuclear capability for peaceful purposes. Sharif said this after meeting with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian arrived on a two-day visit to Pakistan on Saturday, 2 August. After this, he held meetings with Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Prime Minister and other leaders in Islamabad. Why is Pezeshkian's Pakistan visit important? Support for the nuclear programme from Pakistan is of special importance to Iran, as Israel and America have constantly raised questions on Iran's nuclear programme. Israel and America also bombed Iran's nuclear bases in June after the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. In such a situation, Sharif's statement on the nuclear issue can also anger Trump. What did the Iran-Pak joint statement say? According to Dawn, Shehbaz Sharif and Masoud Pezeshkian have signed several agreements on Sunday, 03 August 2025. The two countries signed documents to realise the potential of the $10 billion trade target. In a joint press conference with Pezeshkian, Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear sites on June 13. What did Shehbaz Sharif say? Shehbaz Sharif said that Israel attacked Iran without any reason, and provocation. 'This attack was condemned not only by the government but also by the entire 24 crore Pakistani people because Israel had no logic for this attack.' Sharif also expressed condolences to the Iranian generals, scientists and civilians killed in Israeli attacks. What did Shehbaz say on Iran's nuclear programme? Shehbaz Sharif said during this time that Iran has the right to run its nuclear programme for peaceful purposes under the United Nations Charter. He said that this has been Pakistan's principled stand, and Pakistan will maintain its stand. He also talked about taking effective steps together with Iran on terrorism. Iranian President Pezeshkian thanked the government and people of Pakistan for supporting Iran during the Israeli attack. Pezeshkian said that advancing neighbourhood policy has been a priority of Iran's foreign policy. 'Pakistan is not only our neighbour but also a brotherly country.'
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
India's US Envoy Meets Tulsi Gabbard To Discuss "Mutual Interests"
Washington DC: Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Sunday met with US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and held an "engaging conversation" on various issues of mutual interest. "Pleasure to meet DNI Tulsi Gabbard and her husband, Abraham Williams; we had an engaging conversation on various issues of mutual interest," Ambassador Kwatra stated in a post on X, while expressing his pleasure at the meeting. Earlier on Saturday, New Delhi had opened eight more Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) in the US -- Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose --, bringing the total number of centres to 16 in America. A 17th centre is also planned to open in Los Angeles later this month. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Kwatra expressed his delight over the announcement, noting that at the heart of the India-US partnership lie people-to-people ties. "We are very happy to announce the opening of 8 new Indian Consular Application Centres... We firmly believe that people-to-people ties are the heart of the India-US partnership," said India's Ambassador to the United States. The expansion, announced jointly by the Indian Mission and VFS Global, aims to make essential services more accessible to Indian Americans and other applicants seeking India-related documentation. The centres will handle a comprehensive range of services, including India visa applications, overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) applications, Indian passport services, renunciation of Indian citizenship, police clearance certificates, Global Entry Programme applications and Document attestation services. To improve accessibility, the new centres will operate on Saturdays and include return courier services in standard fees. Additional services such as photographs, photocopies, and form assistance will be provided at no extra charge. Meanwhile, Tulsi Gabbard earlier in July called for a trial of the Obama administration over claims of Russian influence in Trump's US Presidential win in 2016, alleging a "treasonous conspiracy" to undermine the election outcome through politicised intelligence. Gabbard, in a statement, accused former US President Barack Obama and senior officials in his office, including former DNI James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, FBI Director James Comey, and others, of manufacturing intelligence to falsely implicate Russia in influencing the 2016 election in favour of Donald Trump. The Office of the DNI (ODNI) released a 114-page document detailing evidence that, prior to the November 2016 election, the Intelligence Community (IC) consistently assessed that Russia was "probably not trying ... to influence the election by using cyber means." It further noted that on December 8, 2016, a draft of the President's Daily Brief (PDB) stated that Russia "did not impact recent US election results" by conducting malicious cyber activities against US election infrastructure.
