Bahrain to Buy US-made 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats Costing $60.25 Million

[Zarvan]

Fast patrol boat (Image for representation)
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The State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain for 35 Meter Fast Patrol Boats costing $60.25 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Bahrain has requested the purchase of two (2) 35 meter Fast Patrol Boats, each equipped with one (1) MK38 Mod 3 25mm gun weapon system and one (1) SeaFLIR 380 HD Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) device.

Additionally, Bahrain has requested communication equipment; support equipment; spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training; U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is $60.25 million.

The principal contractors for systems listed include: 35 meter Fast Patrol Boats-SwiftShips, Morgan City, LA; MK38 Mod 3 25mm Gun Weapon System-BAE Systems, Louisville, KY; SeaFlir Model 380 HD Forward Looking Infra-Red Device-Flir Systems, Inc., Portland, OR.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/20...rol_Boats_Costing__60_25_Million#.WbN1pMgjFPY

 

[Gomig-21]

Look like it's equipped with a windlass bow anchor. $60.25 million seems like a lot for 2, relatively small patrol boats that basically have a 25mm gun on each boat. The FLIR system is nice, but pretty much mandatory for all patrol boats and is widely available, so I don't think it's a big ticket item that would noticeably raise the cost of a boat. Even when you add all the other aspects that have to come with any military purchase, still, $30 mill seems like a lot for just on of those boats.

The bridge looks nice a big with a lot of glass all around.