The U.S. State Department has announced the approval of several Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Egypt, with an estimated total value exceeding $5.4 billion.
These sales are designed to bolster Egypt’s defence capabilities and reinforce its strategic alliance with the United States.
The largest proposed sale is for the refurbishment and upgrade of 555 M1A1 Abrams tanks to the M1A1SA configuration. This upgrade will involve the installation of advanced equipment such as AN/VAS-5B Driver Vision Enhancer Kits, Thermal Imaging System (TIS) Gunner’s Sights, AGT-1500 tank engines, X-1100 tank transmissions, and spare parts.
According to the FMS notice, “The estimated total program cost is $4.69 billion.” The refurbishment will take place at the Egyptian Tank Plant in Cairo, with General Dynamics Land Systems as the principal contractor.
Additionally, the FMS includes a request for the purchase of 2,183 Hellfire AGM-114R missiles, valued at approximately $630 million. These missiles will enhance Egypt’s ability to defend against regional threats, with a focus on improving interoperability with U.S. forces and partners in the region. The FMS notice states, “The estimated total cost is $630 million,” with Lockheed Martin identified as the principal contractor.
Furthermore, Egypt has requested 543 additional Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) for $30 million. The FMS notice explains, “The estimated total cost is $30 million,” and highlights that the sale will improve Egypt’s ability to conduct counterterrorism operations, particularly in North Sinai. BAE Systems will serve as the contractor for the APKWS sale.
These sales are part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to modernise its military and ensure its ability to address current and future security challenges, says the notice. As noted in the FMS documents, “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
The U.S. government has stressed that these sales will have no adverse impact on U.S. defence readiness.
Wish that was the British military who done that
Egypt has 555 Abrams? Wow
Is the M1A1SA top notch or a mid-life update thing.
Refurb and updates.
All countries are rearming, while in Great Britain there are only cuts, very sad.
Yeah but we, well Eagle certainly, are damn good at talking a lot about these things.
Other countries are only starting to catch up to were we have been for decades. And Egypt doesn’t deploy beyond its own borders.
Wait a few years and we,ll see if Britain still has credible armed forces.
That is reasoning that might have held 15 years ago but now a more fundamental rethink is required.
We can’t have exquisite force structure with pathetically few effectors and a host of totally broken recruitment / training / spares systems as the output of the Rolls Royce system.
If you stress tested the RAF Rolls Royce the wheels would fall off on spares / pilot numbers & fatigue / munitions. So the conclusion is – do things differently: staff college is wrong.
Sorry – hard pill to swallow but things need to change.
Agree.
Who is/are the potential enemy?
Who for Turkey? I would say there are plenty of potential enemies as they would see them at least.
Israel, isis, Iran, Turkey, the entire African Union..