USA’s former Undersecretary of State of Arms Control and International Security Affairs, Andrea Thompson, had issued warning to Pakistan’s Air Force Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan over concerns of breach of security when Pakistan used America’s F-16 fighter jets in aerial combat against India. Indian Air Force had submitted pieces of AMRAAM missile as evidence that American F-16 was used to raid the Indian military base.
Crux of the Matter
The former undersecretary’s letter pointed out the breach of the bilateral agreement: Pakistan moved the F-16s and associated missiles to unapproved operating bases.
Pakistan violated the Indian air space by entering into Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri and dropping bombs, the residue of which were submitted by India as evidence that Pakistan used F-16.
As a part of the agreement, Pakistan is only allowed to house the American missile at Shahbaz and Mushaf base only and is allowed to put it to use in counter-terrorism operations only.
“Such actions could subject sensitive US-technologies to diversion to or access by third parties and could undermine our shared security platforms and infrastructures,” said Thompson.
Curiopedia
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics (its aviation unit is now part of Lockheed Martin) for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,600 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. The Fighting Falcon’s key features include a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, an ejection seat reclined 30 degrees from vertical to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability flight control system which helps to make it an agile aircraft. The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 locations for mounting weapons and other mission equipment. More Info
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