Bahrain Mirror: A website interested in aviation and defense in Arab countries said that Bahrain's F-16 fleet will reach 39 after US administration has lifted a freeze on arms sales to the kingdom and agreed on a deal to sell it 19 Block 70 Lockheed Martin F-16V aircraft worth about $3.86 billion.

The deal also includes upgrading the existing fleet of 20 Bahraini F-16 aircraft to the same standard under the designation F-16V.

Bahrain originally acquired 12 aircraft in 1990, and received 10 more in 2000. Two aircraft have been lost in service while supporting the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.

The Obama administration had imposed a ban on arms sale to Bahrain, citing progress on human rights after 2011 uprising.

However, the ban was lifted in the era of President Donald Trump. The US State Department approved the sales in September 2017.

Arabic Version