According to the DSCA, the Government of Bahrain has requested to buy four M142 HIMARS, three International Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems, and a range of associated equipment and support services. The package includes M28A2 Low Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket Pods, resupply vehicles, GPS receivers, simulators, communications equipment, spares, training, and other logistical and technical support elements.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” the DSCA said. It added that the systems would enhance Bahrain’s capability “to provide critical support for the security of U.S. installations and personnel in Bahrain, integrate into U.S.-led coalitions, and to operate independently in support of U.S. interests and the security of U.S. forces in-theater.”
The DSCA stressed that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region” and that Bahrain “will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.” Lockheed Martin, based in Grand Prairie, Texas, will be the principal contractor, with no offset agreement currently in place.
The agency noted that implementing the sale would require five additional U.S. Government and ten U.S. contractor representatives for four months to support equipment setup and provide operator and maintenance training. Any offset arrangements would be defined in later negotiations between Bahrain and the contractor.
