A trio of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighters departed Greenville, South Carolina, for Bahrain.
The ferry flight from the company’s production is significant as Bahrain will be the first Gulf Cooperation Council country to operate the new Block 70 variant, Lockheed said.
So far, F-16 Block 70s have been produced for Bahrain. The country’s first two are undergoing flight testing with the U. S. Air Force’s 416th Flight Test Squadron. U. S. Air Force Base at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Eleven other Bahraini F-16 Block 70s are “in production and testing stages,” Lockheed says.
Lockheed says its production pipeline for the new edition of the iconic fighter stands at 133 for six countries.
In addition to Bahrain, our consumers are Bulgaria, Jordan, Morocco, Slovakia and Taiwan.
“With the arrival of the F-16 Block 70, we’re seeing an advancement in fighter capabilities,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president of Lockheed’s Integrated Fighter Group.
“The integration of this platform shown will enable the Royal Bahraini Air Force to enhance its skies and partner with allies around the world. “
The Bahrain ferry flight follows the announcement in January that Slovakia had won its first new F-16 Block 70.
The updated edition of the F-16 includes a Northrop Grumman APG-83 electronically scanned array, new avionics, and a modernized cockpit. The aircraft can also be supplied with compatible fuel tanks to increase range.
At the Singapore Airshow, Greg Ulmer, Lockheed’s chief aerospace officer, said the company aims to deliver 19 to 21 F-16s from Greenville this year. By the end of 2024, it expects to produce four games per month.
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