Tim Ripley/DUBAI
Sales of hi-tech missiles in the Middle East look set to take off after Bahrain signed a contract to buy the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) on Saturday.
The government-to-government contract, which is believed to involve 26 missiles and is worth in excess of $100 million, makes Bahrain the first country in the Gulf region to buy the American-made weapons.
Raytheon is to supply the beyond visual range "fire and forget" missiles, which have seen action over the skies of Iraq, Bosnia and Yugoslavia, for use on Bahrain¹s fleet of 12 Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft.
Bill West, air-to-air business development senior manager for Raytheon Missile Systems, says the company is "pleased with the news".
Integration
The missiles are being supplied under a Foreign Military Sales contract, which involves not just the supply of the missiles but modifications to the aircraft and systems integration.
West says that there is strong interest in the AMRAAM throughout the entire Gulf region.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia both have the missile high on their shopping lists. The UAE has already received US approval to buy 491 AMRAAMs as part of the package for 80 F-16s, although this deal has yet to be signed.
Saudi Arabia is also "actively exploring" buying the missile, although West says this is not likely for two or three years. Kuwait had also expressed an interest in buying the missile to equip its Boeing F/A-18 Hornets.
The missile is proving popular with Middle Eastern customers, with West saying the AMRAAM is "very affordable compared with the alternatives".
The AMRAAM has already been sold to 18 countries and is operational on Boeing F-15 Eagle, F-16, F/A-18, McDonnell Douglas F-4Fs, as well as BAe Sea Harriers.
Integration work is underway to integrate the missile onto Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, Saab JAS-39 Gripen and JA-37 Viggen, BAe/Boeing Harrier II, and Panavia Tornado.
The missile can also be ground launched.
Source: Flight Daily News
