First F-16 Block 70s depart for Bahrain

One of the first three F-16 Block 70 aircraft bound for Bahrain departs the Greenville production facility in the US on 6 March. (Lockheed Martin)

The first Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft for Bahrain departed the United States for the Gulf on 6 March.

The manufacturer announced the milestone, saying the first three of 16 jets had left the Greenville production facility in South Carolina bound for Bahrain.

To date, Lockheed Martin has produced five F-16 Block 70 jets for Bahrain, with the additional 11 in various stages of production and testing. Two of the initial aircraft are performing flight-test missions at Edwards Air Force Base, California, with the US Air Force (USAF) 416th Flight Test Squadron.