Procurement: June 30, 2002

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The 28 F-16As and F-16Bs which Pakistan bought a decade ago (delivery was blocked when Pakistan pursued development of nuclear weapons) finally have a home. Half of them will go to the Navy and will be based at Naval Air Station Fallon (Nevada) where they will form an adversary squadron for the Top Gun school, replacing F-18As and Bs and some older F-5s. The other 14 will go to Edwards Air Force Base where they will replace the T-38 chase planes used during flight tests of advanced aircraft. Many countries have tried to negotiate deals to buy the aircraft, but the last such deal (with New Zealand) collapsed when the new government shut down fixed-wing combat aviation in that country.--Stephen V Cole