The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is advancing technical negotiations with Turkish Aerospace Industries to extend the service life of its aging F-16 fleet, facing operational restrictions from the US. The proposed Service Life Extension Programme aims to revitalize Pakistan’s Block-15 F-16A/B aircraft, which are nearing mandatory retirement. A significant aspect of the deal involves the Universal Battlefield Armament System, which would enable the integration of Turkish munitions without US permission, enhancing the PAF’s combat effectiveness. This upgrade is urgent due to the limitations exposed during “Operation Sindoor,” where Indian air defenses significantly outperformed older PAF aircraft, prompting a need for modernization ahead of the indigenous Project AZM fighter’s expected introduction in the mid-2030s.