US Proposes $686 Million F-16 Upgrade Package for Pakistan, Triggers Regional and Congressional

Washington, Dec 2025 : The Trump administration has formally notified the US Congress of a proposed $686 million upgrade package for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter fleet, setting off a mandatory 30-day review period that is expected to generate debate among lawmakers and renewed attention from India.

According to official letters sent by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to key congressional leaders, the US Air Force intends to issue a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to Pakistan for a wide-ranging modernisation programme. Notifications were delivered to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, signalling the administration’s intention to move forward with the deal.

Of the total package, $37 million is classified as Major Defense Equipment (MDE), while the remaining $649 million covers additional hardware, software, training, and logistical support required to upgrade Pakistan’s existing F-16 inventory.

The MDE portion includes 92 Link-16 tactical data link systems, the highly secure, jam-resistant digital network used by US and allied militaries to share encrypted battlefield information in real time. Also listed are six Mk-82 inert 500-pound bomb bodies, unguided low-drag weapons used purely for release testing, integration trials, and training purposes.

Beyond MDE, the proposed sale provides for an extensive suite of non-lethal and technical enhancements. These include avionics upgrades, modifications to the Operational Flight Program, secure communications equipment, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, cryptographic devices, mission-planning tools, test equipment, simulators, spare parts, training materials, technical publications, and contractor-provided engineering and logistics support. According to the DSCA notification, the package is designed to ensure Pakistan’s Block-52 and Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) F-16s remain operationally relevant for the next 15 years.

In its justification, the administration said the upgrades will bolster Pakistan’s ability to work alongside US and partner forces, particularly in counterterrorism operations, where interoperability and secure data exchange are critical. The proposal also notes that the refurbishment will extend the aircraft’s service life through 2040, addressing several longstanding flight-safety and maintenance concerns.

To reassure regional partners, the notice underscores that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in South Asia,” language widely interpreted as acknowledging India’s consistent objections to American defence assistance for Pakistan. Washington has used similar wording in past notifications to mitigate geopolitical sensitivities.

Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is named as the principal contractor for the proposed programme. The US government stated that it does not anticipate deploying additional personnel to Pakistan as part of the upgrade process and stressed that the sale would not affect US defence readiness.

The proposal now moves to Congress, where lawmakers have 30 days to raise objections or introduce a resolution of disapproval. While arms transfers to Pakistan have historically drawn bipartisan scrutiny, similar F-16 sustainment and upgrade packages notified in recent years have advanced without formal congressional blocks.

Team Maverick.