Lockheed Martin's F-16 will be going through its paces at the Show as deliveries get under way of a new batch of 10 Block 40 models to the Bahrain Amiri Air Force (BAAF).The first aircraft was handed over at Fort Worth, Texas, on 22 June, with deliveries due to be completed by the end of this year. The new F-16s will supplement the BAAF's existing inventory of 12 Block 40s (eight F-16Cs and four F-16Ds) and will form the 2nd Fighter Squadron at Sheikh Isa Air Base, in the south of the small Gulf island nation. The new production F-16 aircraft is the same Block 40 configuration as the existing examples, with the addition of new equipment. These include a colour cockpit TV system, APG-68 (V) 8 radar, and AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) capability. All of the new aircraft will be single seat F-16Cs. The new batch is being purchased under the Peace Crown II programme and is valued at $303 million.
Source: Flight Daily News
