US Approves $500 Million Sale of HIMARS to Bahrain

The U.S. Department of State has given the green light for the possible sale of M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to Bahrain for up to $500 million.

This was reported by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

Under the agreement, Bahrain will receive four HIMARS launchers and three tactical artillery fire control systems.

The package also includes M28A2 training missile containers, fire control centers based on highly mobile vehicles, M1084A3 transport and reloading vehicle, visibility enhancement systems for drivers, AN/PSN-13 GPS receivers, as well as personnel training, technical documentation, logistics support and engineering services.

The DSCA emphasized that the final cost could be lower than the stated half a billion dollars, depending on the terms of the contract.

The main contractor will be Lockheed Martin from Texas.

HIMARS is currently one of the most massive modern multiple launch rocket systems in the world. It is in service or has been ordered in 17 countries, including the United States, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Taiwan, Singapore, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, as well as Canada, Norway, Australia and Bahrain.

Taiwan recently announced plans to significantly strengthen its army with a new batch of HIMARS and NASAMS systems.

Upon completion of the procurement, the country will have 57 such systems and an expanded arsenal of long-range ATACMS missiles.

The purchase of an additional 28 HIMARS systems is estimated at $1.33 billion, and the purchase of nine NASAMS batteries and more than 300 missiles of various types will cost another $3.7 billion.

In May of this year, the 58th US Armored Field Artillery Battalion conducted the first live-fire exercise with HIMARS, practicing coordination with allies and demonstrating the readiness of these systems to be used in various scenarios.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that US engineers had turned a shipping container into a launcher for ammunition used by the HIMARS system.