The United States approved two arms deals with Egypt worth a combined total of approximately $2.55 billion USD at the end of January, 2022.
The first deal worth an estimated $2.2 billion includes 12 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and related equipment such as missile warning systems, radar systems and spare engines.
The second deal for $355 million will deliver air defense radar systems, specifically three SPS-48 Land Based Radars and related equipment, to Egypt in addition to providing training on said equipment.
A press release for the sales reported that the aircraft and equipment would assist with border security, search and rescue missions and rapid response efforts to security or terrorist threats.
The U.S. government release noted, “The proposed sale will improve Egypt’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing airlift support for its forces by moving supplies, equipment and people, thus strengthening its capacity in the security and humanitarian arena.”
This is the first major arms sale the U.S. has made with Egypt in almost a year. The last sale made between the two countries was reached back in February, 2021, for missiles and related equipment worth an approximate total of $197 million.
A Global and Regional Leader in Arms Sales
The United States exports more weapons than any other country in the world, and the Middle East is the country’s biggest customer.
According to data collected and reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the U.S. was responsible for 36% of all global arms exports from 2015 to 2019 and countries in the Middle East accounted for 51% of those arms exports.
This trend has continued beyond 2019 with deals like the $650 million sale of missiles to Saudi Arabia and the $735 million sale of precision-guided weapons to Israel that occurred in 2021.
