The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has announced that Raytheon will receive a contract to integrate the AGM-154C Block III JSOW into Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 fighter jets.

This was reported by Colby Badhwar, a journalist for the Insider media outlet.

According to him, JSOW glide bombs are currently integrated only on older F-16 Block 40/50 aircraft.

However, with this contract, future operators of Block 70s will find it significantly easier to integrate these weapons into their fleets.

As examples, he cites Morocco and Taiwan, which also operate JSOW bombs and have F-16 Block 70s in service.

Bahrain received approval to purchase 40 JSOW bombs in 2019 as part of a larger package of various munitions for its F-16s.

Joint Standoff Weapon

The AGM-154 is a 500-kilogram American stealth precision-guided glide bomb. It is equipped with wings and aerodynamic control surfaces to adjust and extend its flight range.

The bomb has a maximum range of 130 km when released from an altitude of 8 km at a speed of 960 km/h. When launched at lower altitudes, its range is limited to 20–30 km.

The basic AGM-154 version is guided by an inertial navigation system with GPS correction. However, the AGM-154C version is additionally equipped with an infrared seeker.

Several modifications of the JSOW bomb have been developed, differing in warhead type. The AGM-154A version, supplied exclusively to US forces, carries a cluster warhead with 145 BLU-97/B submunitions—each a 1.5-kg shaped charge with fragmentation and incendiary effects.

The AGM-154C version is equipped with a 225-kg BROACH warhead, identical to the one used in the Franco-British Storm Shadow/SCALP EG cruise missile.

F-16 fighter jets can carry up to four JSOW bombs on underwing pylons. Pre-flight preparation and programming of the bombs take only a few minutes.

In September 2024, it was reported that the US had agreed to supply Ukraine with Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) bombs as part of military aid. These munitions are compatible with the European F-16 fighter jets transferred to Ukraine, which were modernized under the MLU program. As a result, they can be used without additional upgrades or modifications.