US approves NASAMS sale to Egypt
A Qatari static NASAMS launcher displayed at the DIMDEX show in Doha in March 2024 with a mobile launcher armed with four AMRAAMs in the background. (Janes/Jeremy Binnie)
The US Department of State has approved the sale of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to Egypt, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 24 July.
Developed by Norway's Kongsberg and Raytheon as a replacement for the HAWK air-defence system, the NASAMS uses standard air-to-air missiles as surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) in conjunction with a towed Sentinel radar, a Rheinmetall MSP 500/600 vehicle-mounted electro-optical system, and a fire distribution centre (FPC).
The DSCA said Egypt has requested four AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radars, 600 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles, 100 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), and 100 AMRAAM-Extended Range (AMRAAM-ER) missiles, as well as training missiles and spare guidance and control sections.
Estimated to be worth USD4.67 billion, the sale requested by Egypt also includes an unspecified number of launchers, infrared systems, FPCs, tactical control centres, and other NASAMS-related equipment.
Oman was the first NASAMS operator in the Middle East, followed by Qatar, and a Kuwaiti request for the system was approved in October 2022.
For more information, please seeKuwaiti NASAMS request approved .
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