The US State Department announced on Thursday that it has approved a possible arms deal with Egypt worth $4.67 billion. The deal is aimed at strengthening the country's air defense, the AP agency reports, News.bg reports.
The proposed package includes NASAMS launchers, AMRAAM and Sidewinder missiles, radar systems, encrypted communications, as well as training and technical support.
If the contract is finalized, its implementation will be entrusted to the American company RTX Corporation. About 60 US military personnel will be deployed to Egypt to conduct training and system tuning.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and associated support will not change the fundamental military balance in the region and will not adversely affect US defense readiness“, the State Department said in a statement.
Egypt is seen as a key US partner in the Middle East. The deal is part of a broader effort to maintain regional stability and improve interoperability between the two countries.