TUSAŞ hands modernized F-16 aircraft to Pakistan

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

A modernized Pakistani F-16 is seen at the background at a ceremony on Jan 8.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) delivered three modernized F-16 aircraft to Pakistan on Feb. 8.

The aircraft initially belonging to the Pakistani Air Force, were modernized in Turkey, and delivered to Pakistan.

Pakistani Deputy Commander of Air Forces General Asim Suleiman said Pakistan’s air defense has now become stronger given the revamped aircraft. Pakistani Ambassador to Turkey Muhammad Shaukat Haroon said the project was a sign of friendship and unity of powers between Turkey and Pakistan.

TUSAS was selected as the contractor in the tender for the Pakistan Air Force F-16 Modernization (Peace Drive II) Program and signed a contract with Pakistan Ministry of Defense in June 2009. 

Under the program, TUSAS’s engineers and technicians completed the avionics and structural modernization of a total of 41 F-16 aircraft belonging to the Pakistani Air Force. TUSAS’ test F-16 test pilots performed the test flights of each of the modernized aircraft.

The Peace Drive II program, which started in October 2010, is expected to be completed by September 2014. The required parts, materials and technical data are furnished to TUSAS in accordance with another contract between the U.S. government and the Pakistani Air Force.

TUSAS, which was established for co-production of F-16 aircraft for the Turkish Air Force in 1984, is one of the major aerospace companies in the world involved in F-16 manufacturing and modernization, with its experience, capabilities and manpower capacity. TUSAS, which has successfully completed avionics and structural modernization of the Royal Jordanian Air Force F-16s, currently modernizes 175 Turkish Air Force F-16s.

TUSAS is the center of technology in design, development, manufacturing, integration of aerospace systems, modernization and after sales support in Turkey.