Production underway on F-16 Block 70 for Royal Bahraini Air Force

Ambassador of Bahrain to the United States yesterday inspected the production line of Lockheed Martin’s F-16, where work is underway on the first F-16 Block 70 for the Royal Bahraini Air Force. Bahrain is the first country in the Gulf region to obtain F-16 and the first country in the world to obtain the newest and most advanced F-16 Block 70.

The deal, Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said, is within the framework of the combat aircraft purchase agreement signed during the visit of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to Washington in November 2017. 

During his tour of the facility in Greenville, South Carolina, US, the ambassador expressed Bahrain’s pride in the strategic partnership with the United States of America, adding that the defence relations between the two countries are deep and distinguished. He said the visit coincides with the celebration of the Commemoration Day in Bahrain, which is similar to the United States Memorial Day that commemorates the fallen soldiers.

He pointed out Bahrain hosting the command of the US Fifth Fleet, over the past thirty years, as well as joint exercises and a defence cooperation agreement is a clear indication of the ongoing work of Bahrain to combat piracy, extremism and terrorism. The US company is under contract to build 16 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bahrain.

Lockheed has incorporated enhancements to the Block 70 configuration, including advanced avionics, weapons, and modernised cockpit. The advanced fighter offers an extended structural service life of around 12,000 hours. “Lockheed Martin’s partnership with Bahrain began more than 40 years ago and it continues today with the F-16,” said Bridget Lauderdale, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group.