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New F-16s May Give Pakistan Advantage Over Insurgents
Buisnessweek ^ | 6/27/2010 | Tony Capaccio

Posted on 06/27/2010 10:46:39 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld

The Pakistan Air Force today received its first three of 18 Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16s that the U.S. hopes will give the Afghan neighbor nation a crucial edge against Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in its northwest.

The aircraft give the Pakistan Air Force a night-attack capability and all-weather precision targeting, “an unprecedented advantage they have not had,” said Vice Admiral Michael Lefever, head of the U.S. military mission in Islamabad.

He predicted that the most up-to-date version of the fighter aircraft could be pressed “fairly quickly” into air operations against the Taliban, al-Qaeda and other insurgents in the ungoverned northwest provinces.

The Obama administration is seeking to solidify relations with Pakistan, as its strategy for stabilizing neighboring Afghanistan depends on weakening the fighters who have found havens in Pakistan’s ungoverned tribal areas and threaten regional stability.

“Terrorists can operate at night with impunity but we have had virtually no air cover at night,” Husain Haqqani, Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington, said in an interview.

The F-16 Fighting Falcons were accepted in a ceremony at Shabaz Air Force base 300 miles (480 kilometers) north of Karachi -- an installation U.S. and Pakistan officials agreed was the best location for guarding the planes’ sensitive technology. The remaining 14 will be delivered by December, a Lockheed spokesman said

(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; f16; f16lpakistan; pakistan; pakistaniairforce; shabazairforce; taliban

1 posted on 06/27/2010 10:46:49 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
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To: Jet Jaguar

F-16 ping!


2 posted on 06/27/2010 10:49:56 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The frog who accepts a ride from a scorpion should expect a sting and the phrase "it is my nature.")
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To: sonofstrangelove

Don’t you just know that India loves this!!!

But of course Obama will cater to his Muzzie buddies first.


3 posted on 06/27/2010 10:51:50 PM PDT by datura (Stop Obamunism.)
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To: sonofstrangelove

Don’t you just know that India loves this!!!

But of course Obama will cater to his Muzzie buddies first.


4 posted on 06/27/2010 10:51:58 PM PDT by datura (Stop Obamunism.)
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To: sonofstrangelove

To date, the best damn MRF ever. That’s why they are using it.

I am tired of the promises of other milcraft — and the Super-Hornets (which are pretty cool) just can’t fit the entire mission envelope. Certainly not dollar for dollar.

Falcon F-16: When you need the very best for pretty much everything.


5 posted on 06/27/2010 10:53:33 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The frog who accepts a ride from a scorpion should expect a sting and the phrase "it is my nature.")
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To: sonofstrangelove

I used to play red and green and our conversations would be fun. I was always red. What a crazy time.


6 posted on 06/27/2010 10:55:39 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: sonofstrangelove

ncase anyone forgets how elegant they are...

7 posted on 06/27/2010 10:57:43 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The frog who accepts a ride from a scorpion should expect a sting and the phrase "it is my nature.")
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To: freedumb2003

Give some good looks out of Luke and DM while your at it.


8 posted on 06/27/2010 11:02:29 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: eyedigress

>>Give some good looks out of Luke and DM while your at it.<<

I’ll try to grab a few. The problem is they are always so large and I don’t like to drag a thread down with those huge pics (not that our Falcon doesn’t deserve it).

:)


9 posted on 06/27/2010 11:04:41 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The frog who accepts a ride from a scorpion should expect a sting and the phrase "it is my nature.")
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To: freedumb2003

I’ve got 10 years running that range and rescued on a moments notice. The Pilots were confused but they made it home fast. Sometimes a mind doesn.t work.


10 posted on 06/27/2010 11:12:29 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: eyedigress

My FRiend, I just don’t know of what you post.

I am a (HUGE) fan of the Falcon, but am not deeply steeped in lore. I look at it tactically and to some degree politically, but alas I cannot ever be one of those God smiled upon to be pilots or even part of their direct maintenance or infrastructure.

Before I pass on, it is my fervent desire to someday passenger on the 2-seat B — but quien sabe.


11 posted on 06/27/2010 11:19:49 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (The frog who accepts a ride from a scorpion should expect a sting and the phrase "it is my nature.")
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To: freedumb2003

AS`far as Tonopah goes have at it. It’s all history now eh?


12 posted on 06/27/2010 11:23:16 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: eyedigress

You should say hello. I know my knowv is my word and it is fun. I don’t play bullshit. I do not go for all that


13 posted on 06/27/2010 11:42:10 PM PDT by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west)?)
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To: sonofstrangelove

All the technology in the world, day/night vision, smart bombs, etc., cannot defeat the PR war when the terrorists are allowed to hide behind women and children and yell, “killing innocent civilians” when they are attacked and the left repeats them ten fold. If we learned anything from the Viet Nam war, it is that Americans have been conditioned to believe that we can have a war with no casualties and our enemies use that to sway our political will.


14 posted on 06/27/2010 11:53:39 PM PDT by Dapper 26
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To: Sparky1776; militant2; TaMoDee; freedumb2003

F-16 Ping.


15 posted on 06/28/2010 8:13:26 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar (*)
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