Egypt to receive 24 F16 in $3.2bn deal
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October 19, 2009 -- The US may supply Egypt 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighter aircraft as well as associated weapons and equipment under a deal worth up to $3.2 billion.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) earlier this month notified the country's Congress of the possible sale.
Reports indicate that the Egyptian Air Force is the world's fourth largest F-16 operator, mustering about 157 aircraft: 26 F16A, 12 F16B, 113 F16C and six F16D, according to the Military Balance 2009 publication of the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London.
The DSCA says Egypt has requested 24 fighters installed with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines and APG-68(V)9 radars.
The contract would further comprise 6 F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 IPE spare engines, 6 APG-68(V)9 spare radar sets, 60 LAU-129/A Common Rail Launchers, 28 AN/APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Systems without Mode IV, and 28 M61 20mm Vulcan cannon.
Also included in the deal are 28 AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Systems (AIDEWS); or Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (ACES) which includes the AN/ALQ-187 Electronic Warfare System and the AN/ALR-93 Radar Warning Receiver, as well as 28 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGAR) radios without HAVE QUICK I/II.
Furthermore, Egypt may receive 4 F-9120 Advanced Airborne Reconnaissance Systems or DB-110 Reconnaissance Pods, 28 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) with Standard Positioning Service commercial code only, 12 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Advanced Targeting Pods or AN/AAQ-28LITENING Targeting Pods, 24 pairs of Conformal Fuel Tanks, and28 AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing Systems.
The deal will further include base construction work, support equipment, software development/integration, tanker support, ferry services, Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD), repair and return, modification kits, spares and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support, according to the DCSA filing.
The US agency adds the proposed sale will allow the Egyptian Air Force to modernise its aging air force by acquiring new fighter aircraft, thereby enabling Egypt to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations.
The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Fort Worth, Texas. The proposed sale also involves the following companies:
� Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control
� Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training and Support
� BAE Advanced Systems
� Boeing Corporation
� Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
� Raytheon Company
� Northrop-Grumman Electro-Optical Systems
� Northrop-Grumman Electronic Systems
� Pratt & Whitney United Technology Company
� General Electric Aircraft Engines
� Goodrich ISR Systems
� L3 Communications
� ITT Defense Electronics and Services
� Symetrics Industries
There are no known offset agreements in connection with this proposed sale.
The DCSA says the integration of this new asset into the Egyptian Air Force will be supported by technical reviews/support, program management, and training over a period of 15 years through US government officials and industry representatives.
The Egyptian Air Force also operates 74 Chengdu J-7 (Chinese-copied Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG 21F), as well 53 Dassault Mirage 5D and E fighters.
In addition they fly 15 Mirage 2000C in the ground attack role as well as 15 Mirage 5E2, 29 McDonnell Douglas F4E Phantom II and 44 Chengdu FJ-6 (MiG 19S) and 12 Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet.
Egypt deploys a further 14 MiG21R and six Mirage 5SDR in the reconnaissance role.
The F16A/B is assigned fighter duty and the F16C/D fighter-bomber work.
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