Egypt would like to spend as much as $99 million on TOW IIA anti-armor guided missiles, equipment and services, according to an Oct. 29 congressional notification by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

Egypt has requested the possible sale of 2,000 TOW 2A missiles, plus 28 buy-to-fly missiles, containers, test sets and support equipment, spare and repair parts, publication and technical data, maintenance, training and training equipment, government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support and other support, DSCA said.

Egypt needs the missiles and launchers to augment its current inventory and provide mechanized infantry and field artillery with an anti-armor capability, DSCA said. The nation will have no difficulty absorbing the additional missiles into its armed forces, since it already has U.S.-procured TOW missiles in its inventory.

The sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important fore for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East, DSCA said.

The sale of the equipment and support would not affect the basic military balance in the region.

Two U.S. government representatives already in Egypt managing the existing TOW 2A programs would also manage this program.

Raytheon [RTN] would be the prime contractor. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the sale. There would be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness resulting from the sale.

Additionally, DSCA Oct. 19 notified Congress Egypt wanted to spend $75 million for a FMS of two excess E-2C Airborne Early Warning Command & Control Aircraft as well as associated equipment and services.

Egypt requires additional E-2C aircraft to strengthen AEW surveillance and enhanced command, control, and communications capabilities within its defense network, DSCA said. These aircraft will ensure enhanced fleet communications and interoperability. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing the additional E-2C aircraft into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Northrop Grumman [NOC] would be the prime contractor. There are no offset agreements associated with this potential sale.