Through a recent contract awarded to Raytheon by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), it has been confirmed that the United States will integrate and equip the new AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) glide bombs onto the F-16 Block 70 fighters of the Bahrain Air Force. This development is significant, as it opens the door to similar initiatives for the latest version of the Fighting Falcon, which is being introduced to new operators through modernization packages and the delivery of newly manufactured aircraft from Lockheed Martin’s production line.
Since the first units were unveiled in 2023, the Bahrain Air Force became the first operator of newly built F-16 Block 70 fighters, followed later by the air forces of Slovakia and Bulgaria. The Middle Eastern nation is in the process of incorporating a total fleet of 16 aircraft, with deliveries beginning in early 2024.
Additionally, some aircraft from the fleet remain in the United States, operated by the U.S. Air Force’s 416th Flight Test Squadron to evaluate the integration of new capabilities. A recent example is the tests conducted in February when an F-16V completed a flight equipped with the new Viper Shield electronic warfare system.
The integration of longer-range weaponry, both for striking ground and surface targets, has become a priority for the U.S. Air Force and allied operators of the platform. This is demonstrated by the recent decision to advance the integration of new AGM-158 LRASM missiles on USAF Vipers.
Following this approach, but focusing on enhancing the strike capabilities of an important regional ally, NAVAIR awarded a contract to Raytheon under which it “…intends to negotiate and award a sole-source delivery order modification under a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract” to support “…laboratory and flight test activities for the integration of the AGM-154C Block III JSOW missile on Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 aircraft.”
Currently, the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is already part of the arsenal equipping earlier blocks (40/50) of the F-16, also integrated through NAVAIR. These glide bombs allow engagement of fixed or mobile ground targets at distances of up to 100 kilometers, using a GPS/INS navigation system along with additional onboard sensors.
The JSOW is part of a broader weapons package authorized by the U.S. State Department in 2019 to support Bahrain’s newly acquired F-16 Block 70 fleet. This package also included various types of air-to-air missiles and guided munitions.
Finally, the significance of these efforts should not be overlooked in the context of the global expansion of the F-16 Block 70 fleet. This includes not only new operators such as Bahrain, Slovakia, and Bulgaria but also countries that have modernized or are in the process of modernizing their Fighting Falcons, such as Greece and Taiwan. It also applies to potential new operators seeking to upgrade their combat fleets with the most advanced version of this American-made aircraft.
Photos used for illustrative purposes.
