August 8, 2008 (by Asif Shamim) - After the US began easing sanctions against Pakistan, Turkey will help by assisting in the upgrade of the air forces F-16 Fighting Falcons.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will upgrade 36 of Pakistan's block 15 A/B aircraft. The jets will receive a mid-life upgrade (MLU) that primarily involves replacement of avionics and structural modifications bringing them close to block 40 standards.

TAI was selected in favour of Belgium's SABCA and Netherland's Fokker who were also bidding for the contracted work. The upgrades have been given the green light by the US.

Under the deal, two or three Pakistani F-16s are expected to be upgraded at the TAI facilities in Turkey, while the rest will be upgraded in Pakistan, either at the Sargodha base or at the Pakistani Aeronautical complex, Kamra.

LINK;
http://www.f-16.net/news_article3004.html

It would just bring them upto block 40 standard? I think in previous news and discussions on forums it was seen that they would be brought upto block 50 standard.

This could be a good experience for the technicians and engineers of the PAF when handling F-16.

Thats exactly what iam thinking. By the way block 40 arnt bad. Maybe the MLU Tape 3 which PAF has ordered is equalent to Block 40.

The size of Block 30 and previous versions of F-16 with block 40 and newer of F-16s are different.So,Those couldn't be upgraded with the same level.

Blocks...I don't which one will be followed but be assured that PAF will customize this process as per its very own requirements.

A good choice .... another step in strengthing our relationship even more strongly with our Turk brothers ...

cant be right can it, block 40! thats like early 1990s model, i thought the MLU was going to be like block 50!

this is 2008 what are we doing with a block 40!

oh well better than getting a refund via soya beans

As per the original order the upgrades will install the same avionics and wardfare suites as the new block 52+ that PAF is Insha Allah going to receive.
Araz

MLUs bring thems on par to Blk 52+ 's weapon systems, avionics, radars, and other eletronic/software systems....other stuff such a payload remains the same...

Bro i think with the two extra hard points that are added and uprated and upgraded engines give the F-16's with MLU3 and Falcon star upgrade more payload capability thats what i remember reading atleast.

Oh OK great news but when this is going to happen? Just on news and views programs and a lot of new threads on the PDF for every little piece of news in the media? Even no date and time frame is mentioned.

Sorces tell that for a single F-16, it takes roughly 4-6 months to update it to MLU standards. now it seems that our whole fleet will be updated till 2015. if we send 4 fighters per year.

I think Turkey was chosen on the bases that if the aircrafts are MLUed in USA they might not give them back to us where as in case of turkey we will get the aircrafts back no matter what i think PAC karma will focus all its power and resources on the JF-17 and the Mirage upgrade factory would be used to upgrade the F-16's on a much faster scale with all aircrafts being MLUed by 2012.

Maybe turkey is the nearest facility thats why it is chosen. Where as if incase US blocks the deal then it dont makes difference where the aircrafts are. Wheather it is Turkey or US, policies will be same and iam sure Turkey will obey the rules of US thus the aircrafts will fly directly from Turkey to AMARC for storage for another 11 years.

Good news indeed, but it's ironic that Pakistan helped Turkey to establish the initial F-16 squadron and now the table has turned alas one can assume that Pakistan will also benefit likewise! As for the sanction issue, it's not a secret that they only made Pakistan more self sufficent and determined!!!