Egypt

[danrh]

from defence-aerospace.com

(I posted the full article rather than a link as links to defence-aerospace articles only ever seem to go to the main page)

Egypt – Avenger Fire Units


(Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency; issued June 27, 2005)


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.

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[PlasmaKrab]

Mmh, apparently this seems to be in the Egyptian OOB (unit 283), from 1998 onwards.
Maybe that is somewhat early, maybe the sale was delayed since the oob maker first heard news about it, or simply the sale you are talking about is not the first one!

From www.armytechnology.com:

In 1992, the US Army signed a contract for a further 679 vehicles, bringing total Avenger production to 1,004 units, of which around 800 are in service. A further 14 units were ordered in August 1999. Taiwan has 70 systems and Egypt 50 systems.

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Last updated 8 June 2005