(AhlulBayt News Agency) - American defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp and two of its subsidiaries have officially been awarded a multi-billion dollar contract for the production of F-16 fighter jets designated for Bahrain.
The Pentagon announced on Friday that the USD 1.1 billion contract “provides for the production of 16 F-16 V Block 70 aircraft.”
The Block 70 is the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration and Bahrain will be the first country in the region to get its hands on the war machine.
Work on the jets is expected to be complete by September 2023.
Earlier this year, Defense News quoted an anonymous American military source, describing the sale as “Lockheed’s pass to keep its F-16 production line open for the next three to five years.”
Last March, the Trump White House decided to resume arms sales to Manama despite its role in widespread human rights violations both at home and in Yemen where a Saudi-led military campaign has killed tens of thousands.
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source : Lualua TV
Sunday
24 June 2018
6:20:32 AM
898898
American defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp and two of its subsidiaries have officially been awarded a multi-billion dollar contract for the production of F-16 fighter jets designated for Bahrain.