Pakistan, which had put off a $4 billion deal to buy 75 F-16 fighter aircraft from the United States in the aftermath of last year's earthquake, now plans to buy a mix of both new and used versions of the fighter jets.
"We are considering to buy used F-16s from elsewhere. However, we will prefer a mix of new and old F-16 fighter planes for the Pakistan Air Force," Pakistan Air Force chief Kaleem Saadat said on Friday, adding that various versions for F-16s were available for PAF to chose from.
Maintaining a strong and credible defence is expensive and the PAF needs hardware worth $3 to $4 billion to maintain a minimum deterrence capability, he told the English-speaking Union of Pakistan in Karachi.
The PAF was on the verge of buying 75 F-16 fighter jets last year when the earthquake struck parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province on October 8.
The decision was put off to get maximum financial support from the world community for quake relief work. Pakistan managed to get financial commitments to the tune of $7 billion for relief and reconstruction work.
Saadat said PAF also looked forward to strengthen its reconnaissance and surveillance capability, strike power, detection of enemy aircraft, platform to combat and weapons for defence.