The US State Department has cleared a potential $445-million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to support the sustainment of Bahrain’s F-16 fighter jet fleet, strengthening long-standing defense ties between Washington and Manama. The package designates General Electric and Lockheed Martin as key contractors and covers a wide array of support items, including aircraft components, missile containers, radar receiver parts, guidance and control spares, weapons system support, ground-handling equipment, and laboratory instruments. These additions expand upon a previous $47-million FMS, which fell below the congressional notification threshold.
The earlier agreement focused on modifications, software identification updates, aircraft maintenance support tools, launcher spare parts, and program-related logistics. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the newly proposed support deal aims to bolster Bahrain’s air readiness, enhance operational reliability, and strengthen interoperability with US forces and regional partners during joint missions.
Bahrain holds a unique position as the first Gulf nation to operate F-16C/D Block 40 aircraft since the early 1990s and was the launch customer for the F-16 Viper Block 70, under a major $3.8-billion deal in 2017. Lockheed Martin received a $1.1-billion contract in 2018 to produce the advanced F-16 Vipers, delivering the first aircraft in March 2023 after COVID-19-related delays pushed timelines from 2022–2023 to 2024.
Today, the Royal Bahraini Air Force operates around 20 F-16s, including its legacy jets and five new Block 70 variants. Additional deliveries are expected, solidifying Bahrain’s modernization path and expanding its frontline fighter capabilities in the Gulf region.
