US OKs potential sale of missiles and bombs to Italy, Pentagon says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale to Italy of air-to-air missiles and small diameter bombs, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

Italy has requested to buy 125 small diameter bombs and related equipment for an estimated cost of $150 million, the Pentagon said.

Italy has also asked to purchase 12 AIM advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles for an estimated cost of $69.3 million, the Pentagon said.

It said the prime contractor for both sales is RTX Corp.

Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.

(Reporting by Eric Beech; editing by Rami Ayyub)