Lockheed Martin has handed over the Royal Bahraini Air Force the first modernised F-16 Block 70 Generation 4++ fighter aircraft under a contract worth $1.12 billion

The Royal Bahrain Air Force has received the first modernised F-16 Fighting Falcon generation 4++ fighter aircraft. The aircraft itself was announced back in the first quarter of 2023.

Here's What We Know

The F-16 Block 70 fighter has serial number EA1, Royal Bahrain Air Force insignia and flight number 1601. The aircraft was tested at the Lockheed Martin plant in South Carolina and at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

The Viper upgrade brought an AM/APG-83 active phased array radar from Northrop Grumman and an onboard computer from RTX. The aircraft received the Link 16 communications system, which allows it to communicate with other fighters and MIM-104 Patriot air defence systems.

The F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon is equipped with General Electric's F110-GE-129 powerplant. The fighter also has an enhanced electronic warfare station and a new collision warning system.

The Royal Bahraini Air Force has ordered 16 Block 70 aircraft at a cost of $1.12bn. Currently, there are only two of these fighters. Lockheed Martin plans to produce 48 aircraft per year by 2025.

Source: Flight Global