The Biden administration’s decision to sell 280 AIM-120C air-to-air missiles to Saudi
Arabia has kindled hopes in Egypt, which has been eyeing this Advanced Medium
Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to equip its fleet of F-16s. Fresh reports indicate
that Washington is considering the sale of the AIM-120 AMRAAMs to Cairo, with certain “conditions”. Egypt’s F-16 fleet—the backbone of the country’s air force—is perhaps the most ineffective F-16 force worldwide. Despite upgrading the fleet to Block 40 and 52 standards, the United States has long denied Egypt air-to-air missiles with a range greater than 85 km, restricting Egypt’s long / medium air-to-air missile arsenal to the AIM-7 Sparrow and 35 km shorter ranged AIM-9 Sidewinders.
Shift in Thinking
The United States was said to have agreed to an Israeli request to restrict the capability and use of advanced air-to-air missiles to Jordan and ban their sale to the rest of the Arab world. But, now with the Abraham Accords, Israel’s existing relationship with Egypt has improved and the Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made the first official prime ministerial visit this September to Cairo since 2010, meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh. The U.S. is also working to deepen Israel’s longstanding relationships with Egypt and Jordan –partners critical to the United States, Israel, and Palestinians alike. Defence observers opine that this new bonhomie could potentially expand the U.S. role as the dominant weapons supplier to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Several countries in the region such as Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Oman, and Turkey—operate the superior active radar AIM-120 AMRAAM. This system’s fire-and-forget capability allows the operator to maneuver freely after launch and possesses a publicized range that exceeds that of the AIM-7 Sparrow by an additional 20 km. Recently as on November 4, 2021, the State Department approved a sale to Saudi Arabia of up to 280 AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM and related equipment for an estimated cost of up to US$650 million.
High Hopes
Hopes have been high since the U.S. State Department early this year approved a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of rolling airframe missile (RAM) Block 2 tactical missiles to Egypt, and the latest green signal to sell AMRAAM to Riyadh. In addition to the 280 AIM-120C Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), the Saudi Arabia deal would include the sale of 596 missile launchers, as well as equipment for support and repairs. The Pentagon said the missiles would support Saudi Arabia’s Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. If approved by Congress, it would be the first major foreign military sale to Riyadh since US President Joe Biden took office. Raytheon Missile Systems, which makes the AMRAAM, is meanwhile preparing to deliver the RAM missiles for Egypt’s navy.
In February this year, the U.S administration gave the go ahead to Egypt’s request to purchase up to 168 RIM-116C RAM Block 2 Tactical Missiles, and associated equipment at an estimated cost of US$197 million. Egypt will also get RAM Guided Missile Round Pack Tri-Pack shipping and storage containers, operator manuals as well as technical documentation. The proposed sale will support the Egyptian Navy’s Fast Missile Craft ships and provide significantly enhanced area defence capabilities over Egypt’s coastal areas and approaches to the Suez Canal,” a State Department spokesperson said. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces since Egypt already operates previously procured RAM Block 1A missiles.
Scoot, the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines, recently received the first Embraer E190-E2 aircraft at Changi Airport. "We are excited…
The first of two Fincantieri-built PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d'Altura - offshore multi-purpose patrol vessel) for the Indonesian Navy is expected…
Thailand’s DTI (Defence Technology Institute) and the Royal Thai Army recently conducted a successful test of the DTI-STD-003 bridge layer…
Eve Air Mobility has signed a letter of intent with AirX, Japan’s largest public helicopter air charter service, for up…
L3Harris Technologies has received a US$256 million order from the U.S. Army for continued production of the Enhanced Night Vision…
The Missile Defense Agency has selected Lockheed Martin to deliver the nation's new homeland missile defense capability, the Next Generation…
Collins Aerospace will introduce two major upgrades to the Ascentia software platform. Ascentia is a software solution for aircraft reliability management that…
Pratt & Whitney Canada's PT6A engine recently surpassed 25 million flight hours and 40 years of powering the Cessna Caravan…
The US Army deployed its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system to Northern Luzon, Philippines for the first time. This deployment…
Milrem Robotics has secured a contract to deliver an undisclosed quantity of THeMIS UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) to the Japanese…
CMA CGM Air Cargo is set to expand its service by launching a transpacific route connecting Asia to North America…
Eve Air Mobility (Eve) has designated Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) as the supplier for the pylons of its electric…
Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo arm of one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has established…
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has secured a contract to supply a Multi-Sensor Multi-Mission Radar (MS-MMR) system for the air defence…
The first Embraer E190F, a jet converted from passenger transport to freighter (E-Freighter), successfully concluded its inaugural flight in São…
The Government of Greece officially announced its plans to purchase 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin…
Cathay Cargo resumed its Ho Chi Minh City freighter service on April 4, 2024, after a four-year hiatus due to…
Skykraft has secured approval from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for its spectrum filing for a constellation of 2976 satellites.…
The U.S. Navy, in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has successfully conducted a historic Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) flight test with…
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract worth up to $559 million over five years to operate, maintain…
Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) introduced the ARBEL, hailed as the world’s first computerized small arms system, on Thursday (Apr. 4).…
Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service (GFS) has integrated the H175 helicopter flight simulator developed by Indra into their training regimen.…
After a hiatus of over 30 years, Air Canada is set to return to Singapore's Changi International Airport with the…
FLY91, India's youngest regional airline, announced a partnership with IBS Software on Wednesday (Apr. 3). Aiming to enhance its commercial…
Malaysia Airlines announced its partnership with RECARO Aircraft Seating to equip its upcoming Airbus A330neo aircraft with the CL3810 economy…
Rolls-Royce announced that the company has begun flight testing its latest aero engine the Pearl 10X on its dedicated Boeing…
Avolon, a global aviation finance company, has agreed to sell and lease back four new Airbus A330neo aircraft with Cebu…
Malaysia Airlines and India’s largest airline, IndiGo, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a codeshare partnership…
The Indonesian flag carrier airline, Garuda Indonesia, unveiled plans to expand its aircraft fleet with the procurement of eight new…
Belgian Defence has placed an order for six R7 Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) from Exail. These unmanned underwater vehicles are…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us Click Me!
2024 GBP all rights reserved.