The Egyptian Navy's Ambassador III-class missile craft ENS Soliman Ezzat sails in the Arabian Sea during a passing exercise with the US Navy Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry to practice manoeuvring procedures and communication between ships, February 12, 2019. US Marine Corps/Lance Corporal Antonio Garcia
Naval Ships

US State Dept approves possible foreign military sale for Egyptian Navy missile craft modernisation

Baird Maritime

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the Government of Egypt of fast missile craft (FMC) modernisation and related elements of logistics and program support for an estimated cost of US$625 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Tuesday, February 4.

The DSCA has also delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale.

The Government of Egypt has requested to buy equipment and services including four component based total ship systems, 21st Century (COMBATSS-21) combat management systems, to modernise its FMCs.

Also included are air and surface surveillance radars; chaff decoy systems; electro-optical/infrared sensor systems; electronic warfare systems; navigation data distribution systems; communications intelligence systems; fire control radar systems; 76mm gun upgrades; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

The DSCA said the proposed sale will improve Egypt’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing the tactical and operational capabilities of the Egyptian Navy to support strategic maritime security objectives.

The agency added that the proposed sale of the equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region, nor will it have any adverse impact on US defence readiness

The principal contractors will be US firms Lockheed Martin and L3Harris.