Washington/Islamabad, December 12, 2025 (Agencies) – The United States has approved the sale of technology and support services for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets in a deal reportedly worth $686 million, Pakistani media reported Wednesday.
According to media reports, the proposed sale is intended to modernize Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and address operational safety concerns. The approval was outlined in a December 8 letter from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to Congress.
“[The sale] will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by allowing Pakistan to retain interoperability with US and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and in preparation for future contingency operations,” the DSCA letter stated.
The package includes Link?16 data link systems for secure tactical communications, cryptographic equipment to protect mission data, avionics modernization, advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, and full?motion simulators for pilot training. It also provides support for AIM?120 AMRAAM missile integration, extending Pakistan’s air?to?air combat range, along with logistics and technical services to sustain fleet readiness through 2040.
Link 16 is a standardized communications system for transmitting and exchanging real time tactical data using links between network participants, also known as TADIL J. It also uses Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) to provide multiple, simultaneous communication paths through different nets.
Link 16 is the standard by which other systems are measured for secure, airborne situational awareness. In fact, Link 16 has been credited by the U.S. Air Force as a key factor for saving lives in multiple theaters due to the increased situational awareness the system provides.
Pakistan had initially requested upgrades to its fleet in 2021, but Washington delayed its response amid strained bilateral ties at the time. The deal now enters a 30-day review period and is expected to face scrutiny from US lawmakers. Regional observers note that India is closely monitoring the development, as reported by NDTV.
The approval comes weeks after Washington cleared a potential $93 million arms sale to India, including the Javelin missile system, according to Times of India. The two South Asian neighbors were recently involved in a military conflict in May following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives.
US President Donald Trump has claimed he brokered a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed rivals after “a long night of talks,” though New Delhi has rejected these assertions.