Egypt, Arab Countries Sign Massive Arms Deals With U.S.
(israelnn.com) US airplane manufacturer Lockheed Martin has been given permission by the US government to sell 24 F-16 jet fighters to Egypt in a $3.2 billion deal. Congress was notified of the deal in October, according to a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin.
A Pentagon report released by Haaretz newspaper says the Egyptian F-16 deal is aimed at making Egypt a “more valuable partner in the Middle East” in addition to supporting “Egypt’s own self-defense needs,” according to the UPI news agency. Additionally, Israel’s neighbor will receive four batteries of highly advanced Harpoon Block II anti-ship cruise missiles, four fast missile boats, 450 Hellfire anti-tank missiles (to be sold with restrictions on use and transfer, according to the Pentagon), and 156 jet engines for F-16 aircraft.