BDF signs $ 3.8 billion-deal to buy upgraded F-16 jets

Manama, Oct. 17 (BNA): The Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) has announced the signing of a $ 3.8 billion-deal with Lockheed Martin to buy 16 upgraded F-16 aircraft. The deal was concluded during the second day of the Bahrain International Defence Exhibition and Conference (BIDEC 2017), held under the auspices of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander. The deal was announced by the Commander of the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Air Vice-Marshal Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa during a press conference held at the BIDEC’s Media Centre. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (DERASAT) and BIDEC’s Official Spokesman, and Richard Ambrose, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Company, attended the press conference. Shaikh Hamad stated that the upgraded F-16 jets will contribute effectively to developing the Royal Bahraini Air Force, which, he said, also includes many modern systems. Lockheed Martin’s Executive Vice-President affirmed that Bahrain is the first country in the region to sign such a deal with the company, highlighting the great development witnessed by RBAF.