State Department approves $750M weapons sale to Bahrain

The State Department on Friday approved a foreign military sale to Bahrain for an estimated cost of $750 million, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Bahrain's government requested various weapons to support its new procurement of F-16 Block 70 aircraft and upgrades to existing F-16V aircraft.

The possible sale includes 32 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, 32 AIM-9X missiles, 20 AGM-84 Block II Harpoon missiles, 50 AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, 100 GBU-39 250-pound Small Diameter Bomb-I all-up-rounds, 120 KMU-572 tail kits, 100 DSU-38 proximity sensors and other weapons and support equipment.

"Bahrain will use these capabilities as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense," a DSCA news release states. "This proposed sale and upgrade will improve interoperability with U.S. forces and other regional allies."

The primary contractors will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Raytheon Missile Systems and Boeing.

Arms sales to Bahrain -- a member of the Saudi-led coalition fighting a war in Yemen -- have met resistance from lawmakers in the past.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) sought to prevent a $300 million weapons sale last fall due to mass civilian suffering in that conflict. His resolution was voted down.