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Breaking News: US strengthens Egyptian air defense with sale of NASAMS systems and AMRAAM missiles.
The US Department of State has approved a potential arms sale to Egypt valued at $4.67 billion, which includes the advanced NASAMS air defense system, hundreds of missiles, and associated technical and logistical support services. The announcement, made public on July 24, 2025, by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), represents another development in the long-standing military cooperation between Washington and Cairo, amid a shifting regional environment.
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The NASAMS system is expected to improve Egypt’s capability to detect and intercept a broad range of aerial threats, including drones (Picture source: Kongsberg)
The deal, officially notified to Congress as required by US law, covers Egypt’s acquisition of the NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System), jointly developed by the United States and Norway. It includes four AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radars, one hundred AMRAAM-ER extended-range air-to-air missiles, one hundred AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, as well as spare guidance and control sections. The order also includes 600 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles, 150 AIM-9X Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs), and a set of replacement components and training equipment.
The NASAMS is a medium to long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Norway) in partnership with Raytheon (United States). It is modular, mobile, and designed to neutralize a wide range of aerial threats including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and drones. The system architecture incorporates up to 12 multi-missile launchers, a 3D AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar, passive electro-optical sensors, and a Fire Distribution Center (FDC) that manages command and control (BMC4I). Each launcher can engage up to six targets simultaneously, with all missiles launched in under 15 seconds. NASAMS is interoperable with other systems such as Patriot, HAWK, and directed-energy weapons.
NASAMS’s primary interceptor is the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, including the C-8 and AMRAAM-ER variants. This active radar-guided missile uses solid-fuel propulsion and is capable of engaging high-speed aerial targets beyond visual range (BVR). The AIM-120C-8 has an estimated range exceeding 160 km and is optimized for intercepting stealthy, fast, and maneuvering targets. The AMRAAM-ER, a ground-launched extended-range version, combines a fragmentation warhead with a larger motor, achieving interception altitudes of up to 14 km. Together, the NASAMS and AMRAAM provide layered air defense against complex aerial threats.
In addition to weaponry, the package includes a full range of support systems: fire distribution centers, canister launchers, tactical control elements, classroom simulators, IPS 250X secure communications modules, AN/PSN-13 DAGR positioning systems with SAASM, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment, KIV-77 crypto modules, and code loaders. Technical, logistical, and training services will be delivered by US government and contractor personnel. Approximately 60 specialists, 26 US government representatives and 34 contractors will be deployed to Egypt to oversee installation, commissioning, training, and system maintenance.
The prime contractor for the deal is RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon Technologies), based in Andover, Massachusetts. No industrial offset agreements are foreseen. DSCA noted that the total value represents the highest estimate based on initial requirements and could decrease depending on finalized terms, budget constraints, and eventual contracts.
According to US authorities, this sale aligns with foreign policy and national security objectives by supporting the security of a non-NATO ally considered a stabilizing presence in the Middle East. Militarily, the NASAMS system is expected to improve Egypt’s capability to detect and intercept a broad range of aerial threats, including drones, hostile aircraft, and cruise missiles. US assessments suggest the Egyptian military will have no difficulty integrating the new equipment into its defense structure.
The transaction fits into a bilateral military relationship that began in the late 1970s following the Egypt-Israel peace treaty. Since then, Egypt has been one of the main recipients of US military assistance. Recent geopolitical dynamics, however, indicate Cairo’s interest in diversifying its defense partnerships, as demonstrated by its first joint military drills with China, called “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” held earlier this year.
Through this sale, the US reaffirms its position as Egypt’s key defense supplier, while addressing regional security challenges. Despite the emergence of new players in Egypt’s defense relationships, Washington remains central to Cairo’s military procurement strategy.
Although substantial in scale, the transaction is not expected to alter the regional military balance, according to US authorities. It reflects the ongoing US strategy of maintaining interoperability with regional partners while countering the influence of alternative defense actors, including China.