US Approves Sale of Penetrator Bombs for Bahrain’s F-16 Aircraft

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain of General Purpose (GP) and Penetrator Warhead bomb bodies for an estimated cost of $45 million.

The Government of Bahrain has requested three thousand two hundred (3,200) General Purpose (GP) and Penetrator Warhead bomb bodies to include:  one thousand five hundred (1,500) MK-82 (500lbs) GP bomb bodies, six hundred (600) MK-83 (1,000lbs) GP bomb bodies, six hundred (600) MK-84 (2,000lbs) GP bomb bodies, and five hundred (500) BLU-109 (2,000lbs) Penetrator Warhead bomb bodies, A US Defense Security Cooperation Agency release said.

Bahrain will use these munitions as a deterrent to regional threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and execute counter-terrorism operations, the release said.

The GP bomb bodies would also better equip Bahrain to operate with U.S.-led and U.S.-supported coalition operations. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 17, 2018.

Bahrain is part of the Saudi-led coalition waging a three year war on Yemen. The coalition has been accused of indiscriminately bombing populated areas in the impoverished Arab nation and causing hundreds of deaths.