US approves potential sale of $740 million Stinger missiles to Egypt
- World
- September 25, 2024
The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential sale of 720 Stinger missiles to Egypt, valued at $740 million.
- The U.S. Department of State approved sale of 720 Stinger missiles to Egypt for $740 million.
- Egypt intends to mount the Stinger missiles on vehicles with the Avenger launcher system.
- Stinger missiles are in high demand due to their effectiveness in Ukraine and concerns about potential threats from Russia in Europe.
The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential sale of 720 Stinger missiles to Egypt, valued at $740 million, the Pentagon announced on Tuesday.
These missiles, in high demand due to their effectiveness in Ukraine against Russian air assaults, have also been sought by European nations concerned about potential threats from Russia, Reuters reported.
In Egypt, the Stinger missiles would be mounted on vehicles equipped with the Avenger launcher system, rather than being deployed as shoulder-fired weapons.
The Pentagon stated that RTX Corp will be the principal contractor for the sale. Earlier this summer, several NATO members placed a $700 million order for Stinger missiles, extending the production line backlog through 2029. Egypt’s new order will further add to this growing demand.
Egypt is undeniably a formidable force in Africa’s military landscape, recognized as the strongest on the continent according to the Global Firepower report. With a PwrIndx Score of 0.2283, Egypt holds the 15th position globally.
In terms of military expenditure, Egypt holds the third-largest defence budget in Africa at $9.4 billion, trailing behind Algeria with $21.6 billion and Morocco with $12.08 billion.
Egypt’s military spending also positions it as the 35th country globally with the highest defence budget. These figures reflect Egypt’s continued investment in strengthening its military presence both regionally and internationally.
Recently, Egypt delivered a second cache of military equipment to Somalia, as tensions in the Horn of Africa escalated due to the growing conflict between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland.
