Pakistan has requested a Foreign Military Sales deal to acquire spare parts for a number of its air force types, including the Lockheed Martin C-130 transport, F-16 fighter and T-33 trainer, as well as the Cessna T-37 trainer.
A notice issued by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 12 May notified Congress of a possible $62 million sale, but made no mention as to when Pakistan made the request.
Relations between Islamabad and Washington have been strained following the US special forces raid that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abottabad on 2 May.
Earlier this year the Pakistani air force inducted 17 new F-16 Block 52+ fighters into 5 Sqn, part of an 18-aircraft deal signed in 2006. Pakistan's 34 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft are also undergoing mid-life upgrades.
Source: Flight International
