The United States government has authorized the possible sale of a logistics package to support the Bahrain Air Force’s fleet of F-16 Block 70 fighters. This stems from one of the latest notifications sent by the Department of State to the U.S. Congress, seeking approval for the operation valued at US$445 million and framed under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Although the Bahrain Air Force does not operate the largest F-16 fleet, it holds the important distinction of being the first international operator of the most modern variant of the Fighting Falcon—an achievement marked in 2023 with the unveiling of the first newly built Block 70 aircraft from Lockheed Martin’s production line in Greenville, South Carolina.

A total of sixteen (16) fighter aircraft are currently being incorporated into the force, with the formal delivery process having begun in 2024. However, some units remain in the United States, where—through cooperation agreements—they are operated by the U.S. Air Force’s 416th Flight Test Squadron for the purpose of evaluating the integration of new technologies and combat capabilities.

This was demonstrated by flights conducted in February by one of the F-16s of the Middle Eastern nation’s Air Force, which was equipped with Viper Shield, the new electronic warfare system designed and developed by L3Harris for the Block 70/72 models.

Additionally, in March, tests were carried out to evaluate the integration between the F-16 and the new long-range glide bomb AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), paving the way for the future integration of this stand-off weapon with Bahrain’s fighter aircraft, as well as with aircraft of other interested forces.

AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) launched from an F-16 – U.S. Air Force (USAF)

Returning to the notification released on December 1 by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Government of Bahrain requested from the United States the acquisition of a new logistical support package, which complements previous requests.

According to the information provided, the package is valued at US$ 445 million and includes components, spare parts, consumables, and rotables; ground support equipment and weapons-handling systems; as well as support, repair, and maintenance services provided by General Electric Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics.

The Viper Shield electronic warfare system conducted its first flight on January 23, 2025, from Edwards Air Force Base in California. The aircraft used for the test was a Block 70 F-16 Fighting Falcon, piloted by Major Anthony Pipe, an F-16 experimental test pilot with the 416th Flight Test Squadron, Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin)

The U.S. Department of State stated: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”

It added: “The proposed sale will improve Bahrain’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in regional operations alongside the United States and other partner nations. Bahrain will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its Armed Forces.”

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