Posted on 12/25/2009 9:28:39 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency has signaled its intent to consider a rash of foreign military sales to Egypt, including the transfer of anti-tank missiles. The government of Egypt has also requested anti-ship missiles, engine upgrades for its fleet of F-16 jet fighters and Fast Missile Crafts worth an estimated $1.18 billion.
The proposed sale is expected to "contribute to the foreign police and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the U.S. Defense agency said.
Among Egypt's grab-bag of requests: 450 AGM-114K3A Hellfire II air-to-surface anti-armor missiles, along with associated parts, equipment training and logistical support. This package alone is estimated at $51 million.
Experts say Egypt requires the particular missiles to defend its own borders and to remain militarily viable in the contentious region. Still, the experts maintain, the purchase will not adversely affect the military balance in the region.
Egypt also wants to procure 20 RGM-84L/3 Harpoon Block III anti-ship cruise missiles, 4 Harpoon shipboard command launch control systems, including all consoles, software and shipboard canister launcher units.
The potential sale would also feature support equipment, personnel training and training equipment -- all estimated at $145 million.
Should the deal go through, the principle contractor will be U.S-based Boeing company.
Another export opportunity includes Egypt's request for upgraded F-110-GE-100 engines that power its fleet of F-16 jet fighters. The proposed upgrades will be spread out over six or seven years, in increments of approximately 24 upgraded engines per year, local media reported.
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We cannot trust any muslim, period.
We need nuclear energy and a real commitment to energy self-sufficiency.
Let the Sand Diggers rot and let them kill each other with glee.
And by the way, there is oil in Egypt....a lot....access to it is a bit bothersome....WWII land mines by the millions still out there in north Africa.
I do not.
With the land mines during WWII, you can blame the Germans
We might just have the dumbest “leaders” on the planet. Here is the clue to the US govt....COPTIC CHRISTIANS.
You think Egypt wants these goodies to carry out a domestic genocidal purge?
There must be some way to set all these puppies off without endangering personnel.
Maybe they need them to help fight Islamofacists from
Libya, Sudan, Yemen..
I think we are fools to give them a dime. The govt there is making fools of us, just like the rest of the Islamic world.
No.
Period.
.
Policy? Freudian slip?
Against whom are they defending themselves? Sounds like they are afraid of another Seven Days War when Israel kicked their asses along with most ot the other ME states. Is this another move by Obama against Israel?
For over fifty years we have been giving billions annually to the leaders of Egypt to help us keep the peace in that area. We have also armed them with the latest weapons as part of the deal. As long as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Iran Jordan, and whom ever else, allows and encourages Wahabbism religious fervor will sooner or later overcome the influence of U.S. cash.
Those leaders want power. If they can get U.S. bucks as part of the deal, great! In the long run, if the Wahabbis seem about to overthrow them they will switch sides quicker than a cat can lick his ... . In the meantime they appease the Wahabbis while knowing the U.S. is a toothless tiger in that respect.
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