U.S. State Department Greenlights $200 Million Missile Deal with Egypt
The US State Department approved on Tuesday a probable sale worth $197 million of Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs) to the Egyptian armed forces.
Raytheon’s naval missiles are designed to safeguard against anti-ship projectiles and are utilized by the navies of 11 nations, including Turkey and the US.
This agreement pertains to the Block 2 variant of the tactical missiles, featuring a more powerful rocket motor and sophisticated threat detection systems. Previously, Egypt had the Block 1a variant.
In addition to the missiles, the arms arrangement encompasses tri-pack shipping and storage containers, operational manuals, technical documents, and both US governmental and contractor technical assistance, as reported by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
“The anticipated sale will bolster the Egyptian Navy’s Fast Missile Craft vessels and significantly enhance area defense capabilities over Egypt’s coastal territories and approaches to the Suez Canal,” the agency affirmed in a statement.
Congress was alerted about the prospective sale on Wednesday, initiating a 30-day evaluation period for lawmakers.
