Bahrain Signs $3.8 Billion Deal With Lockheed Martin for F-16 Fighter Jets

Published October 18th, 2017 - 02:35 GMT
The multi-billion dollar arms deal with Bahrain comes as US President Donald Trump has eased restrictions on arms sales to certain countries including Bahrain. (AFP/ File)
The multi-billion dollar arms deal with Bahrain comes as US President Donald Trump has eased restrictions on arms sales to certain countries including Bahrain. (AFP/ File)

Bahrain has concluded a $3.8-billion deal with US aerospace and military equipment giant Lockheed Martin to purchase 16 upgraded F-16 fighter jets.

The Bahrain Defense Force announced on Tuesday it signed the agreement with Lockheed Martin during a military exhibition in the Persian Gulf sheikhdom, AFP reported.

The US State Department had informed Congress in March that it planned to approve a request by Manama to purchase the fighter jets.

The multi-billion dollar arms deal with Bahrain, which is home to America’s Fifth Fleet, comes as US President Donald Trump has eased restrictions on arms sales to certain countries including Bahrain.

In September, Reuters cited an unidentified US official as saying that the $3.8-billion agreement was a package arms deal, which included 19 F-16 fighter jets, upgrades, 35-meter patrol boats equipped with machine guns, and 221 anti-tank missiles.

The deal comes as Manama has been under fire by the international community for its heavy-handed crackdown on dissidents and political activists.

The article has been adapted from its original source. 

You may also like

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content