WASHINGTON, Dec 12: The Lockheed Martin Corporation of the US has received a $144 million contract to begin production of 18 F-16C/Ds for Pakistan, as part of a $5.1 billion arms package to re-equip the country’s air force. The work on the project will be completed by November 2010.

The planes to be built under the contract will be Block 52 aircraft -- 12 single-seat Cs and six two-seat Ds -- powered by Pratt & Whitney F100-229 engines. The Northrop Grumman company has received a $99.5 million contract to produce 54 APG-68 (V)9 radars for new F-16s, plus existing and second-hand aircraft Pakistan plans to upgrade.

Turkey's Tusas Aerospace Industries signed a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan Air Force last month to modernise up to 32 F-16A/Bs.

Pakistan’s F-16s package also includes conformal fuel tanks, helmet-mounted cueing systems, Link 16 data-links and electronic-warfare equipment.

An associated $650 million weapons’ deal includes 500 Raytheon AIM-120C5, 200 AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and 2,100 precision-guided bombs.—PPI