Washington Tightens Grip: U.S. Revives Funding to Enforce Oversight on Pakistan’s F-16 Fleet

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –In a striking move, the U.S. State Department, under President Donald Trump’s administration, re-allocated a staggering $400 million (RM1.7 billion) in financial assistance to Pakistan—a decision that underscored Washington’s tight grip over the operational use of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) F-16 fighter jets.

This hefty sum was funneled into a specialized oversight initiative, funding a team of U.S. contractors known as the Technical Security Team (TST), stationed in Pakistan itself to monitor, scrutinize, and enforce stringent U.S.-mandated “end-use restrictions” on the prized F-16 fleet.

These restrictions were non-negotiable—Pakistan’s F-16s, particularly the newer variant F-16C/D Block 52 variants, were to be deployed exclusively for counterinsurgency (COIN) and counterterrorism (CT) missions.

Any attempt to repurpose these aircraft beyond this mandate—especially in conflicts against regional adversaries—would be a direct violation of Washington’s conditions.

These strict end-use restrictions effectively shackled Pakistan, rendering its U.S.-supplied F-16s off-limits for any military confrontation with India.

Washington’s grip on Pakistan’s aerial warfare capabilities was undeniable.

But in a dramatic geopolitical shift, Pakistan began pulling away from the U.S., steadily drifting into China’s military orbit.

Unlike Washington, Beijing imposed no such restrictions on its weapon systems, offering Pakistan the freedom to wield its arsenal without external interference.

The PAF had once willingly accepted these constraints when it ordered new F-16s in the 2000s—a time when Pakistan’s counterinsurgency (COIN) and counterterrorism (CT) campaigns were at their peak.

At that point, Islamabad’s military leadership stood in lockstep with Washington, prioritizing the stabilization of its turbulent tribal regions.

For nearly a decade, Pakistan’s defense expenditures were funneled into COIN and CT operations, a strategy that cemented its dependence on U.S. military aid.

But as global alliances shifted, so too did Pakistan’s priorities—setting the stage for a new era in its military evolution.

In a seismic shift in strategic priorities, Pakistan was thrust into action in 2019 after India launched a cross-border strike—an act that Islamabad saw as an undeniable provocation demanding an immediate and forceful response.

Unleashing its aerial might, Pakistan retaliated with a large-scale air operation, deploying JF-17s, Mirage fighters, and F-16A/B Block-15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) aircraft.

While the JF-17s and Mirage jets rained down airstrikes across the Line of Control (LoC), the F-16A/B MLUs, flanked by additional JF-17s, stood ready to intercept any Indian Air Force (IAF) jets daring to cross into Pakistani airspace.

The high-stakes confrontation reached a fever pitch when a MiG-21bis of the IAF was shot down, a moment that sent shockwaves across the region.

Now, as Pakistan enters a new chapter of military modernization, the PAF is preparing to bid farewell to its aging F-16A/B fleet, which will reach the twilight of its operational life by the 2030s—marking the end of an era and the dawn of a more advanced and autonomous aerial force.

As Pakistan’s aging F-16A/B fleet inches closer to obsolescence, uncertainty looms over whether the country can keep these warhorses battle-ready.

Their airframes will soon reach—or even surpass—their designated lifespans, raising the specter of a dwindling aerial capability unless a powerful successor is secured.

Sensing the urgency of this impending capability gap, Pakistan has set its sights on the Chinese J-35, signaling an early and decisive move to replace both the F-16A/B and Mirage, particularly in the high-stakes strike role.

Unlike the aircraft currently in PAF’s arsenal, the J-35 boasts superior range, a greater payload capacity, and cutting-edge stealth technology.

With its low-observable (LO) airframe and dedicated electro-optical targeting systems, the J-35 isn’t just a replacement—it is a lethal force multiplier, poised to redefine Pakistan’s aerial dominance in the years to come.

After months of media speculation, reports indicate that Pakistan is set to acquire 40 J-35A fifth-generation fighter jets from China, with deliveries expected to be completed within two years.

This deal marks China’s first-ever export of a fifth-generation fighter to any foreign country.

The reports on Pakistan’s J-35A acquisition emerged following a high-level visit by General Zhang Youxia, one of China’s top military officials, to Islamabad last month.

During his visit, General Zhang held closed-door discussions with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir.

The introduction of the J-35A into the PAF’s fleet is expected to shift the regional air power balance, providing Pakistan with a significant advantage over India, whose air force continues to rely on fourth- and 4.5-generation fighters such as the Su-30MKI and Rafale.

The J-35A is China’s second fifth-generation fighter, following the J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” which has not been made available for export due to its sensitive technology and components.

With the J-35A, China now joins the United States as the only country to have successfully developed two distinct fifth-generation fighter jets.

The U.S. maintains a similar capability with its F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters.

Pakistan’s acquisition of the J-35A underscores its deepening strategic defense partnership with China and signals a major transformation in the country’s aerial combat capabilities.

The move also reflects Pakistan’s growing independence from Western military suppliers, as it looks toward Beijing for next-generation air power solutions.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA