MANAMA (Press TV) – Bahrain has signed an agreement to purchase an MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system from the U.S. Army.
"This letter of offer and acceptance allows the U.S. government to begin contract negotiations with Raytheon for production of an undisclosed quantity of systems and missiles,” major U.S. military contractor and industrial corporation Raytheon Company said in a press release.
The release said the Patriot missile system will ensure that Bahrain is well equipped to defend against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and manned and unmanned aircraft.
On May 4, the U.S. State Department approved a possible $6 billion worth of weapons sales to Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in three separate packages.
The Manama regime was given the nod to potentially buy various Patriot missile systems and related support and equipment for an estimated cost of $2.48 billion.
Bahrain is home to U.S. Navy’s 5th fleet, which not only backs up the regime’s survival militarily but also serves as a key base for Washington's interests in the region.
Back on September 29, 2018, the U.S. State Department endorsed the proposed sale of more than 800 tactical missiles to Bahrain amid the Al Khalifah regime’s heavy-handed crackdown on pro-democracy campaigners and political dissidents in the country.
The approval included Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary Rocket Pods and Army Tactical Missiles System (ATACMS) Unitary missiles for an estimated cost of $300 million, the Arabic-language al-Khaleej al-Jadeed news website reported.
They are demanding that the Al Khalifah regime relinquish power and allow a just system representing all Bahrainis to be established. Manama has gone to great lengths to clamp down on any sign of dissent. On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were deployed to assist Bahrain in its crackdown.
On March 5, 2017, Bahrain’s parliament approved the trial of civilians at military tribunals in a measure blasted by human rights campaigners as being tantamount to imposition of an undeclared martial law countrywide.
Bahraini monarch King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah ratified the constitutional amendment on April 3, 2017.

This file picture shows a MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.