US: Supplying Egypt With 25 Advanced Mobile Anti-Aircraft Units To Provide Cover For Invasion Of Israel Won't Affect Balance

2005-06-27

[IMRA: The reason that the United States Government is so certain that "The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region" is because if the sale would affect the balance it couldn't be made because of Congressionally imposed restrictions on sales. Its not that the impact of the sale on the balance was actually checked. If next week Mr. Bush decides to propose selling nuclear missiles to Egypt the announcement would also read that "The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region."

The question: when will the congressional bodies that are supposed to keep an eye on these matters insist that the requirement that sales of "equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region" be met by something more serious than a boilerplate line in the announcements?].

Egypt - Avenger Fire Units

Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency

On 27 June 2005, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt of 25 Avenger Fire Units as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $126 million.

The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale of 25 complete Avenger Fire Units, 30 AN/VRC-92E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radios, 29 captive flight trainers, 25 aerial handling trainers, 25 1097A2 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle carriers; support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, U. S. Government Quality Assurance Teams, and other related elements of logistics. The estimated cost is $126 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

This proposed sale will reduce Egypt's dependence on its Soviet air defense systems and will enhance potential interoperability with U. S. forces. This will provide Egypt with two additional short-range air defense brigades of 12 Avenger fire units per brigade (6 fire units per battalion). One of the 25 fire units will be used as an operational float and/or for training at the Air Defense Institute. Egypt will use the fire units to upgrade its air defense capability and will have no difficulty absorbing these additional fire units into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be Boeing Aerospace Company of Huntsville, Alabama; and International Telephone and Telegraph of Fort Wayne, Indiana. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of two field service representatives for one year to support the fire units and SINCGAR radios. There will be a U.S. Government Quality Assurance Team for three week intervals quarterly to participate in program management and technical reviews.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis