The country buys new fighters from the United States and upgrades those already acquiredThe Bahrain Air Force became the first customers and recipients of American F-16V fighters of new production.
At the end of 2017, Bahrain signed an agreement with the United States through the US program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS) on the purchase of 16 Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters (ten single-seat F-16C and six two-seat F-16D) Block 70 of new construction (with an option for three more). And also about the modernization of 20 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D (16 single and four double) Block 40 fighters of the Bahrain Air Force under this option (out of 22 received from 1990 to 2001).
Initially, Bahrain negotiated the acquisition of 19 F-16V vehicles, which was reflected in the notification issued in September 2017 by the US Department of Defense Agency for Military Cooperation (Defense Security Cooperation Agency – DSCA). However, in the end, the agreement was concluded for 16 aircraft.
It is reported that this fighter will still undergo flight tests and deliveries to Bahrain will begin only at the beginning of 2024. All 16 aircraft of the new construction will be delivered to Bahrain in 2024-2025 – that is, with a delay of about a year compared to the contract terms. This is due to the delay in mastering the production of the F-16 at the enterprise in Greenville.
To date, Lockheed Martin Corporation has firm contracts for the supply of 127 new-built F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft through the FMS line in the interests of Middle Eastern customers. Including 15 aircraft for Bahrain (excluding the first transferred F-16D) and 24 vehicles for Morocco (Block 72). Contracts for the supply of 12 F-16V Block 70 fighters to Jordan are being processed through the FMS mechanism.
The F-16V Block 70 fighter is the latest version of the F-16 and features a number of significant design changes, including an improved on-board computer, an AN/APG-83 active antenna array with electronic scanning by Northrop Grumman Corporation, an upgraded cockpit with a central multifunctional display system (Center Pedestrian Display), a new GPS/inertial navigation system, a Link-16 data link, an advanced electronic warfare (EW) system and a collision avoidance system. Updating the radar and electronics has allowed to expand the possibilities of using guided weapons.
In August 2020, the US Department of Defense announced the issuance to Lockheed Martin of a ten-year framework preliminary contract under the Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) scheme at a fixed price with a total volume of $ 62 billion for the production of F-16 fighter jets for export through FMS.
The first part of this contract was a firm contract for the production of 90 F-16 fighters in the amount of $ 4.941 billion. with a deadline of December 31, 2026. It can be assumed that these 90 aircraft include 24 machines for Morocco.
Work on upgrading F-16 fighters from a number of Middle Eastern operators to the F-16V level is also being transferred to the Greenville facility from the Fort Worth facility, as is the manufacture of appropriate modernization kits for work in the customer countries.
To date, the modernization of F-16 fighters of previous releases to the level of F-16V Block 70/72 has been ordered by the already mentioned Bahrain (modernization of 20 F-16C/D Block 40) and Morocco (modernization of 23 F-16C/D Block 52+ fighters). As can be seen, work on the modernization of the first aircraft for Greece and cars for Bahrain was carried out and is still being carried out in Fort Worth. But, as it was stated, the Moroccan F-16s will already be fully upgraded in Greenville.
In September 2021, the Turkish government sent an official request to the United States for the acquisition of 40 newly built F-16V Block 70 fighters through the FMS, as well as 80 modernization kits for upgrading to the Block 70 variant of available Turkish Air Force fighters.
In conclusion, Bahrain is a member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (GCC) and occupies a key strategic position between regional rivals – Iran and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain's most important security activities are related to Saudi Arabia, but there is also a strong relationship with the United States. Since 2002, Bahrain has been one of the main non-NATO allies of the United States.
The Bahraini Armed Forces for the most part still operate equipment from the 1980s, although in some areas there is a gradual modernization. The Bahraini Armed Forces carried out a limited expeditionary deployment in support of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.
As part of a large-scale modernization of the Bahrain Air Force, Bahrain is in the process of acquiring new F-16V fighters and upgrading existing F-16s to this configuration, as well as acquiring the Patriot air and missile defense system.
Vasily IvanovVasily Ivanovich Ivanov is a journalist.
