Air Forces of Small Gulf States
1. In Jan 2018, the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) inducted the first of its 12 newly acquired Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. The RAFO already operates 23 Block 50 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D s (of 24 originally ordered), and placed an order for 10 F-16C Block 50s, and 2 F-16D Block 50s, as the second batch of these aircraft in Dec 2011.
2. A source described the Jun 2018 sale of 16 F-16V Block 70s to Bahrain as “Lockheed’s pass to keep its F-16 production line open for the next three to five years.” In return, the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) is in a crucial need of upgrading its fleet to keep up with other Gulf nations, the source added. “It’s a win-win situation; Bahrain needs the F-16, and the F-16 needs Bahrain.” Bahrain also procured
4. In Jun 2019, the U.S. Senate on rejected Sen. Rand Paul’s measures to block sales of munitions to Bahrain
1. In Jan 2018, the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) inducted the first of its 12 newly acquired Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. The RAFO already operates 23 Block 50 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D s (of 24 originally ordered), and placed an order for 10 F-16C Block 50s, and 2 F-16D Block 50s, as the second batch of these aircraft in Dec 2011.
2. A source described the Jun 2018 sale of 16 F-16V Block 70s to Bahrain as “Lockheed’s pass to keep its F-16 production line open for the next three to five years.” In return, the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) is in a crucial need of upgrading its fleet to keep up with other Gulf nations, the source added. “It’s a win-win situation; Bahrain needs the F-16, and the F-16 needs Bahrain.” Bahrain also procured
- 32 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM missiles
- one AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM guidance section
- 32 AIM-9X missiles
- 20 AGM-84 Block II Harpoon missiles
- 2 ATM-84L-1 Block II Harpoon missiles
- 40 AGM-154 JSOW all-up-rounds
- 50 AGM-88B HARM
- 4 AGM-88 HARM training missiles
4. In Jun 2019, the U.S. Senate on rejected Sen. Rand Paul’s measures to block sales of munitions to Bahrain
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