The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $750 million sale of various weapons to support Bahrain F-16 aircraft fleet, the Pentagon said on Friday after notifying Congress of the certification.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the State Department had approved the sale of 32 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM missiles; 1 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 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) All-Up-Rounds; 50 AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM); 4 AGM-88 HARM training missiles; 100 GBU-39 250 lb Small Diameter Bomb (SDB-1) All-Up-Rounds; 400 MAU-209 C/B Computer Control Groups (GBU-10, -12); 80 MAU-210 Enhanced Computer Control Groups (GBU-49, -50); 340 MXU-650 Air Foil Group (GBU-12, -49); 140 MXU-651 Air Foil Groups (GBU-10, -50); 70 KMU-557 GBU-31 tail kits (GBU-31 JDAM, GBU-56 JDAM); 120 KMU-572 tail kits (GBU-38, -54); 100 DSU-38 proximity sensors (GBU-54); 462 MK-82 or BLU-111 500 lb Bomb Bodies; 210 BLU-109/BLU-117 or MK-84 2000 lb Bomb Bodies; 10 practice BLU-109/BLU-117; 670 FMU-152 fuses.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally which is an important security partner in the region. Our mutual defense interests anchor our relationship and the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) plays a significant role in Bahrain’s defense.,” according to notifications released by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 3 May.
The proposed sale improves Bahrain’s ability to meet current and future threats. Bahrain will use these capabilities as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.
These weapons support the new procurement of F-16 Block 70 and upgrades of existing F-16V aircraft, providing an increase in the capability of existing aircraft to sustain operations, meet training requirements, and support transition training for pilots to the upgraded aircraft.
The principal contractors for this effort will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, TX; Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, AZ; and Boeing Corporation, Chicago, IL.