Us-Bahrain Arms Deal: Precision-Guided Munitions On Offer

The United States has a history of selling weapons to Gulf countries, including Bahrain. In 2018, the US State Department approved a possible foreign military sale of general-purpose and penetrator warhead bomb bodies to Bahrain, worth $45 million. This sale was intended to improve Bahrain's security and ability to conduct and sustain air operations with its F-16 combat aircraft. While this sale did not specifically mention precision-guided munitions, the US has been known to sell such weapons to its Gulf allies. In 2017, a $7 billion deal for precision munitions between the US and Saudi Arabia was reported, and in 2016, the US sold $33 billion worth of weapons to Gulf countries, including precision-guided munitions.

The US has sold weapons to Gulf allies, including Bahrain

The US has also sold weapons to other Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan. In 2019, the Trump administration pushed through $8.1 billion in weapon sales to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, despite objections from Congress. This included precision-guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles, and aircraft maintenance.

In recent years, the US has sold $33 billion worth of weapons to Gulf allies, including attack helicopters, ballistic missile defense systems, and precision-guided munitions. The State Department has expedited these sales, citing commitments made to Gulf partners at the Camp David summit in 2015. The Gulf spending spree has been driven by concerns over a resurgent Iran and the ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.

The sale of weapons to Gulf allies has sparked controversy in the US, with lawmakers expressing concerns about the use of American weapons in civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. However, the Trump administration justified the sales as necessary to deter and defend against potential threats from Iran.

Precision-guided munitions are also called smart weapons

Precision-guided munitions (PGMs) are also called smart weapons. They are guided missiles, rockets, or bombs that use a "seeker" control system to guide themselves to a specific target. This can be a laser guidance beam, a global positioning system (GPS), or an integrated inertial navigation system.

PGMs are designed to hit a specific target, thereby minimising collateral damage and increasing lethality against intended targets. They are often used in complex and contested environments and can be launched from the air, the ground, or a ship. They can also change flight direction based on new information.

The development of PGMs can be traced back to the late 19th century when Nikola Tesla designed a radio-controlled, self-propelled "boat" that could carry torpedoes. However, the first use of PGMs in combat was by the Germans during the Spanish Civil War, when they introduced steerable munitions using radio control or wire guidance.

The United States has a long history of developing and selling PGMs, with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, and General Dynamics being key players in the industry. In recent years, there has been criticism of the sale of PGMs to countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, due to concerns about civilian casualties. Despite this, the U.S. continues to sell PGMs to its allies, citing national security and economic benefits.

The US approved a $320 million sale of munitions to Israel

The US has a history of selling weapons to its Gulf allies, including Bahrain, and in 2018, the State Department approved a possible foreign military sale of munitions to Bahrain for an estimated $45 million.

In November 2023, the US approved a $320 million sale of precision-guided munitions to Israel. This was to be a direct sale between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer, and Rafael USA, an American company with ties to the former, based in Maryland. The Biden administration formally notified congressional leaders about the transfer on October 31, 2023. This sale was part of a wider $20 billion in weapons sales to Israel, including 50 F-15 fighter jets, advanced air-to-air missiles, tank ammunition, mortars, and tactical vehicles.

The US has offered billions in military aid to Israel for decades and has been steadfast in its support during its conflict with Hamas. The US has also sold $33 billion worth of weapons to Gulf countries in the last year, with deals in the works as the business of bombing the Islamic State continues to boom. In 2017, Saudi Arabia agreed to buy about $7 billion worth of precision-guided munitions from US defense contractors, as part of a larger $110 billion weapons agreement coinciding with President Donald Trump's visit to the country.

The US State Department approved a $45 million sale to Bahrain in 2018

• 1,500 MK-82 (500lbs) GP bomb bodies
• 600 MK-83 (1,000lbs) GP bomb bodies
• 600 MK-84 (2,000lbs) GP bomb bodies
• 500 BLU-109 (2,000lbs) penetrator warhead bomb bodies

In addition to the bomb bodies, the sale also included spares, repair parts, support equipment, personnel training, shipping services, technical documentation, and other related elements. This sale aimed to enhance the Royal Bahraini Air Force's capabilities and improve their ability to conduct air operations with their F-16 combat aircraft.

The proposed sale was expected to improve Bahrain's ability to address security threats, deter regional threats, strengthen its defence capabilities, and execute counter-terrorism operations. Additionally, it would enable Bahrain to better participate in U.S.-led and supported coalition operations. The sale was also anticipated to have no adverse impact on U.S. defence readiness.

It is important to note that the notification of a potential sale does not confirm its conclusion. The proposed sale of munitions to Bahrain is in line with the United States' goal of a stable and secure Middle East, as well as their cooperation on initiatives such as border security, maritime security, military preparedness, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.

Arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been contentious in US Congress

Arms sales to Saudi Arabia have been a contentious issue in the US Congress, with some lawmakers objecting to the sale of American weapons that have contributed to civilian deaths in the Saudi campaign in Yemen. The US State Department has approved the sale of $7 billion worth of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia, as part of a $110 billion weapons agreement coinciding with President Donald Trump's visit to the country in May 2017.

The sale of arms to Saudi Arabia has been a subject of debate in Congress, with some senators introducing resolutions to block or limit arms sales due to concerns about human rights abuses and the high number of civilian casualties in the Yemen conflict. In 2019, Congress sent a war powers resolution to the president's desk in response to then-President Trump's support for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi. More recently, in March 2023, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy and Republican Senator Mike Lee introduced a resolution requiring the State Department to produce a report on Saudi Arabia's human rights record and its conduct in Yemen. This report could potentially trigger a vote in Congress to end US security assistance and weapons sales to Saudi Arabia.

However, blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia is not without consequences. Saudi Arabia is the dominant purchaser of American arms, and a significant contributor to the US defense budget. In 2010, Riyadh signed a $60 billion deal to buy defense articles from American companies, with an upfront payment of $30 billion. Saudi Arabia's purchases help sustain thousands of high-skilled manufacturing jobs in the US and support smaller defense companies that service American and foreign defense customers. Additionally, maintaining a robust security cooperation relationship with Saudi Arabia helps America's defense industry in the region, as other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries tend to follow Saudi Arabia's lead in purchasing US defense articles.

The debate around arms sales to Saudi Arabia in Congress reflects the tension between economic and humanitarian considerations. While some lawmakers prioritize the protection of American jobs and the interests of US defense companies, others focus on the human rights implications and the impact of these weapons on innocent civilian lives in Yemen.

Frequently asked questions