State Department approves possible $197M missile sale to Egypt

Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The State Department approved a possible $197 million deal Tuesday to sell RIM‑116C Rolling Airframe Missiles Block 2 tactical missiles to Egypt.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Egypt's government has asked to buy up to 168 of the missiles.

Its bid also includes shipping and storage containers, operator manuals and technical documentation as well as engineering, technical and logistical and support services.

The proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security by "helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East," according to the DSCA's announcement.

"The proposed sale will support the Egyptian Navy's Fast Missile Craft ships and provide significantly enhanced area defense capabilities over Egypt's coastal areas and approaches to the Suez Canal," the DSCA said.

"Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces since Egypt already operates previously procured RAM Block 1A missiles," the agency said.

Developed and produced cooperatively with Germany, the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile is a lightweight, quick-reaction, fire-and-forget missile built to destroy anti-ship cruise missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats.

Raytheon Missiles & Defense will be the primary contractor on this sale if it goes through.

At the end of December, the State Department approved a potential $104 million sale of a Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System to Egypt.