WASHINGTON DC (Kashmir English): The United States Air Force has awarded a $488 million contract to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp for long-term engineering and technical support of F-16 Fighting Falcon radar systems, with Pakistan among the countries covered by the deal.
The official award notice published this week declares that the firm-fixed-price contract, which provides indefinite-delivery and indefinite-quantity services, will deliver services for the APG-66 and APG-68 radar systems that F-16 fighter aircraft use.
The work will take place at Linthicum Heights in Maryland and is expected to last until March 31, 2036. The contract provides support for various partner nations through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program with Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Thailand, and Turkiye as participating countries.
The US Air Force Lifecycle Management Centre in Utah published the award through a sole-source contract. The award included an initial obligation of $2.64 million, which came from non-appropriated Air Force and Navy funds for fiscal 2026.
The United States demonstrates its commitment to F-16 operational readiness through this latest support arrangement, which benefits allied and partner air forces, including Pakistan, which operates US-made fighter jets under scheduled upgrade and maintenance programs.
The development occurred after a separate US notification to Congress, which took place in December 2025, when the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) presented a proposed $686 million package to upgrade and support Pakistan’s F-16 fleet.
The package provides Link-16 tactical data systems together with cryptographic equipment, avionics upgrades, and training and logistical support.
The upgrade plan also includes modifications to operational flight programmes, identification friend-or-foe systems, precision navigation tools, and secure communications equipment.
The plan includes simulators along with technical documentation, software updates, and engineering support services. Lockheed Martin was identified as the principal contractor for the proposed upgrade programme, which US officials said would not require additional personnel deployment to Pakistan and would have no adverse impact on US defence readiness.
The DSCA notification explained that the package will modernize Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and extend its operational life until 2040, and fulfill both operational safety and avionics needs.
The report confirmed that Pakistan possesses the necessary resources to implement the upgrades and sustain its current aircraft fleet. A diplomatic source familiar with the matter said Pakistan has welcomed continued US support for its F-16 programme, noting that such upgrades would help extend the aircraft’s operational life while maintaining technical compatibility with allied systems.
The source stated that Pakistan’s air force has expanded its aircraft inventory during recent years because the military wants to operate multiple types of aircraft while still maintaining its current capabilities with F-16 fighter jets.
The US continues to support Pakistan’s F-16 fleet through the new long-term support contract and the previously announced upgrade package, which operates under Foreign Military Sales agreements and regional interoperability requirements.
