The State Department has approved a possible $911 million deal with Bahrain for 12 AH-1Z attack helicopters.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the potential foreign military sale (FMS) on April 27.
Bahrain has requested the AH-1Z helicopters come equipped with 26 T-700 GE 401C engines, 14 AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles and 56 Advance Precision Kill Weapon System II WGU-59Bs.
“Our mutual defense interests anchor our relationship and the Royal Bahraini Air Force plays a significant role in Bahrain’s defense,” DSCA officials said in a statement. “The proposed sale improves Bahrain’s capability to meet current and future threats. Bahrain will use this capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. This sale will improve interoperability with U.S. forces.”
The FMS also includes 15 Honeywell [HON] Embedded GPS Inertial Navigation Systems, 12 Joint Mission Planning Systems, 12 M197 20mm gun systems, 30 Tech Refresh Mission Computers, 14 AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight Systems, 26 Helmet Mounted Display/Optimized Top Owl, communication equipment, electronic warfare systems, and missile warning systems.
The prime contractors for the deal are Textron’s [TXT] Bell Helicopters company and General Electric [GE].