The U.S. administration has approved a significant military transaction with Egypt aimed at modernizing the defense equipment of this strategic Middle Eastern country. Announced on Friday, December 20, 2024, this decision marks a key step in the cooperation between Washington and Cairo. The deal, valued at over $5 billion, includes the modernization of 555 M1A1 Abrams tanks in the Egyptian Army, as well as the acquisition of Hellfire missiles and precision-guided munitions.
Egypt maintains an active fleet of 1,130 M1A1 Abrams tanks
According to the U.S. State Department, $4.69 billion will be allocated to upgrading the Abrams tanks to the M1A1 SA (Situation Awareness) configuration. This standard introduces advanced technologies such as the FBCB2 (Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below) command and control system and a thermal sight for the 12.7 mm machine gun. The upgrade also involves enhanced armor protection, including depleted uranium components, although these elements were omitted from Abrams tanks transferred to Ukraine in the autumn of 2023. Additionally, $630 million will be used to procure 2,183 Hellfire missiles, while $30 million will be spent on acquiring precision-guided munitions.
Egypt maintains an active fleet of 1,130 M1A1 Abrams tanks. This acquisition began in 1992, with the local assembly of these tanks carried out in partnership with the United States. Egypt remains the only country outside the United States authorized to produce M1A1 Abrams locally.