Bahrain Mirror: The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain of twenty-eight (28) TOW Improved Target Acquisition Systems (ITAS), and related equipment, for an estimated cost of $80 million according to a statement by the Defense Security Cooperation.

The statement said that the possible sale includes 4 TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) Floats, support equipment, spare parts, training and other associated equipment and services.

The Defense Security Cooperation considered in its statement that "the proposed sale of the TOW ITAS and technical support will advance Bahrain's efforts to develop an integrated ground defense capability. "

The statement further stated that the principal contractor involved in this program is Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS) of McKinney, Texas.

For its part, the American "The Defense Post" website said that the BGM-71 TOW, Optically tracked, Wire-guided - missile, produced in the 1970s to attack armored vehicles, can be fired by soldiers from portable launchers, as well as from vehicles and aircraft.

Once fired, the target must be kept in the shooter's line of sight until the missile impacts.

The United States State Department approved on Thursday (July 26, 2018) sale of items and services in support of Follow-On Technical Support (FOTS) for the Royal Bahrain Navy Ship SABHA (FFG-90) for an estimated cost of $70 million (more than BD 26 million).

Thus, the total arms purchases in the 2 deals amount to over BD 56 million.

Arabic Version