State Department Clears Bahrain's $445M F-16 Sustainment FMS

The Department of State has approved a possible $445 million foreign military sale to Bahrain for F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft sustainment and related equipment. The proposed transaction adds new items to a previous FMS request valued at $47 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Monday.

General Electric Aerospace and Lockheed Martin will serve as principal contractors for the sale.

What’s Included in Bahrain’s F-16 Fighting Falcon FMS Request?

Bahrain requested aircraft components, missile containers, radar receiver parts, guidance and control section spares, weapons system support, ground handling equipment, and laboratory instruments. In the original FMS, the West Asian country requested to purchase aircraft maintenance support equipment, repair and return support, classified and unclassified publications and technical documents, and U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics services.

DSCA said the sale supports U.S. foreign policy and national security by strengthening an ally that contributes to maintaining stability in the Middle East. The package is expected to enhance Bahrain’s ability to deter adversaries and operate alongside U.S. forces and regional partners.

Manama will have no difficulty absorbing the requested equipment into its armed forces because the Bahraini military has been operating F-16, a fourth-generation fighter aircraft, for years.

In 2017, Bahrain also secured State Department approval to buy 19 F-16V fighter aircraft for $3.95 million. Swiftships, BAE Systems and FLIR Systems served as principal contractors for the sale.

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