Bahrain has signed an agreement with Bell Helicopter Textron Inc to procure 12 Bell AH-1Z twin-engine attack helicopters after the United States senate voted down a draft resolution to block US Arms sales to Bahrain. Contract was announced at the Bahrain International Air Show on 15 November. The first batch of the aircraft will be delivered to Bahrain by the end of 2022, the official Bahrain News Agency reported on Thursday.

The US Senate, on Thursday, rejected a measure, provided by Republican Senator Rand Paul, to block US arms sales to Bahrain over the island’s involvement in the Yemen war.

The bill aimed to stop the sale of $300m in US-made weapons to Bahrain, which includes guided missiles and rocket launch systems, as well as the training of military personnel, and technical and logistical support.