The U.S. State Department approved an estimated $45 million sale of 3,200 general purpose and penetrator bomb bodies to Bahrain, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a Friday, May 18 release.
Bahrain’s government requested 1,500 Mk-82 (500lbs) general purpose bomb bodies, 600 Mk-83 (1,000lbs) general purpose bomb bodies, 600 Mk-84 (2,000lbs) general purpose bomb bodies, and 500 BLU-109 (2,000lbs) Penetrator Warhead bomb bodies, the DSCA release said.
Also included in the proposed sale are munitions components, spare and repair parts, support equipment, training and other support.
Describing Bahrain as “a major non-NATO ally which is an important security partner in the region,” DSCA said the sale will “bolster the Royal Bahraini Air Force’s ability to conduct and sustain air operations with its F-16 combat aircraft.”
“Our mutual defense interests anchor our relationship,” DSCA said.
Bahrain will use the munitions as a deterrent and to execute counter-terrorism operations, DSCA said, adding that the general purpose bomb bodies “would also better equip Bahrain to operate with U.S.-led and U.S.-supported coalition operations.”
The munitions will be provided from U.S. government stocks.
On April 27, the U.S. State Department approved the $911.4 million sale to Bahrain of 12 Bell AH-1Z attack helicopters along with Hellfire missiles and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II precision-guided rockets.
In October, Bahrain announced it had finalized a $3.8 billion purchase of F-16 fighter jets from U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, and in December, Bahrain was among ten foreign customers for Raytheon’s Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs).