Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Aaron Mehta

State Department clears nearly $4B in long-delayed weapons for Bahrain, including a re-opened F-16 sale

The U.S. State Department has approved about $4 billion in Foreign Military Sales for Bahrain, clearing a long-awaited package that includes F-16 fighters whose sale was previously halted under the Obama administration. The clearance signals renewed U.S. support for Bahrain’s air capabilities and modernization plans.

2026-04-27T20:34:36.583883-07:00
Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Joe Gould

Program head: CR will ‘slow down versus stop’ F-35 progress

By DefenseNews.com: While the F-35 program will move forward at pace even if funded through a continuing resolution, development and testing activities will slow down starting around April 2018 if a CR extends into spring, the head of the program office warned Wednesday.

2026-04-27T20:34:36.124913-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Lara Seligman

Air Force Secretary Warns of Consequences if McCain Blocks B-21

By DefenseNews.com: WASHINGTON — As Sen. John McCain continues his crusade against the Air Force’s next-generation B-21 bomber, service secretary Deborah Lee James is warning of the cost in both dollars and time of terminating the contract.

2026-04-27T17:49:17.762459-07:00