The US has approved a potential $445-million FMS to maintain and upgrade Bahrain’s F-16 fighters. GE and Lockheed Martin will supply spares, containers, radar components, guidance systems, ground support tools, and specialized lab equipment. This expands a previous $47-million package that did not require congressional notification. The upgrade aims to improve Bahrain’s operational readiness and ensure smooth integration with US forces during regional missions. Bahrain has operated F-16 Block 40 jets since the 1990s and became the first customer for the advanced F-16V Block 70 model in 2017 under a $3.8-billion deal. A $1.1-billion manufacturing contract followed in 2018, and the first F-16V was completed in 2023 after schedule delays tied to the pandemic. The air force currently fields around 20 F-16s, including recently delivered Block 70s, with more scheduled to join the fleet.
