US oks $3.8bn deal to Bahrain for F-16Vs and Block 40 upgrade.

"The proposed sale improves Bahrain's capability to meet current and future threats. Bahrain will use the capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. This purchase of F-16Vs will improve interoperability with United States and other regional allies," the DSCA said.

In one another FMS, Bahrain also requested to upgrade its existing 20 F-16 Block 40 aircraft to the F-16V configuration. The requested sale comprises of 23 F-110-GE-129 engines (includes 3 spares); twenty-three 23 APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars (includes 3 spares); 23 Modular Mission Computers (includes 3 spares); 23 Embedded Global Navigation Systems/LN260 EGI (includes 3 spares); 23 Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDGs) (includes 3 spares); 40 LAU-129 launchers; 25 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Pods; as well as several air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, personnel training and training equipment, and global support. The total estimated program cost is $1.082 billion.

"The upgraded F-16Vs will provide an increase in the capability of existing aircraft to sustain operations, meet training requirements, and support transition training for pilots to the upgraded aircraft," the DSCA said.

The prime contractor for the two programs will be Lockheed Martin.

The Lockheed Martin F-16V is the latest and most advanced F-16 on the market today. Lockheed Martin successfully completed the maiden flight of the F-16V on October 16, 2015, marking the first time an F-16 had flown with Northrop Grumman’s advanced APG-83 AESA radar. The new radar delivers a quantum leap in capability for the venerable F-16. Lockheed Martin is more than two years into development of the F-16V and is now in the flight test phase of the program.