The U.S. Department of Defense announced on Friday that the State Department has approved a potential arms deal with Egypt valued at over $5 billion.
The deal primarily involves the upgrade and refurbishment of Abrams tanks, representing the largest segment of the agreement, with an estimated cost of $4.69 billion. The project will be executed by General Dynamics Land Systems.
Additionally, the deal includes the sale of other weaponry, such as Hellfire missiles worth $630 million, and precision weapon systems valued at $30 million.
This agreement is part of a series of arms deals between the United States and Egypt in recent years. In 2022, Washington approved a $2.56 billion military equipment package for Cairo, which included heavy transport aircraft and air defense radar systems. That same year, in May, the U.S. announced the sale of Chinook CH-47F helicopters to Egypt for $2.6 billion.
Egypt ranks as the sixth-largest arms importer globally during the 2018–2022 period, accounting for 4.5% of global arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Capabilities of Abrams Tanks
The M1 Abrams tank has been the U.S. military’s main battle tank since its introduction in 1980 and is considered one of the most powerful tanks in the world.
In 1992, Egypt produced its first Abrams tank at Factory 200, according to the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper. By 1994, Egypt had completed the production of its first 100 tanks of this model, with continuous efforts to increase local manufacturing components ever since.
Abrams tanks are renowned for their ability to engage other tanks and penetrate enemy lines. They are specifically designed to maneuver effectively across open terrain.
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