4 February 2005
Official Israeli sources describe Egypt's aggressive space program as a response to Israel's Ofek program. An Egyptian spy satellite, which was constructed in cooperation with the Yuzhnoye company of Ukraine, will be launched in February. In addition, another spy satellite is under construction in Italy. A launch date for this satellite has not been scheduled.
--"Israeli Article Says Ofek-6 Failed Due to Small Budget, Views Future Development," Ma'ariv, 04 February 2005, in FBIS Document GMP20050204000081.

8 February 2005
Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Russian federal service on military technical cooperation with other countries, says Egypt is one of the "Middle East states with which Russia has or establish[ed] ties in military-technical cooperation." Since 2000, Mr. Dmitriyev points out, Russia has expanded its military technical cooperation, supplies of weapons and military hardware into the Middle East region.
--"Middle East Remains Largest Regional Arms Sales Outlet for Russia," ITAR-TASS, 8 February 2005.

18 February 2005
Sergey Chemezov, general director of "Rosoboroneksport" Federal State Unitary Enterprise (subordinate to the Russian committee for military technical cooperation with foreign states), announces a contract may soon be signed with Egypt to launch a spacecraft.
--"Babkin: Rosoboroneksport's Chemezov on Russia's International Sales," Nezavisimoye Voyennoye Obozreniye, 18 February 2005, in FBIS Document GMP20050218000311.

21 February 2005
A senior U.S. official states that North Korea had been exploring and proposed selling missiles to Egypt as recently as six months ago. Egyptian apprehension of the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative may have prevented the transactions from ever materializing.
--"U.S. Eyes Crackdown on N.Korea Money Laundering," Reuters, 21 February 2005.

8 March 2005
Serbia-Montenegrin Defense Ministry provides the Egyptian Navy with two self-propelled Rubez type anti-ship missile coastal launchers. In addition to training over the past several months in the use of the Rubez system, Egypt also purchased five Osa I class missile boats that are being modified prior to delivery. Two Serbia-Montenegrin Navy diesel-electric submarines have also been a topic of interest by the Egyptian Navy and may lead to a contract.
--"Egyptian Navy Squadron Leaves Serbia-Montenegro Carrying Missile Systems - Daily," Podgorica Vijesti, 8 February 2005, in FBIS Document GMP20050308000310.

15 March 2005
Russia will convert and launch decommissioned intercontinental ballistic missiles to place satellites in orbit for several countries including Egypt. Anatoly Perminov, agency chief at Roskosmos, says the satellites will be launched from Russian space facilities.
--"Satan Missiles becomes Peaceful and Profitable," Yuri Zaitsev, Russian Information Agency Novosti, 14 February 2005.

27 April 2005
Head of the Russian Rosoboronexport arms enterprise Sergey Chemezov tells a reporter that negotiations for the sale of an air defense system to the Egyptian government are in their final stages. Egypt is also looking to purchase Russian anti-aerial defense missiles.
--"Russia Nears Deal to Sell Air Defence Systems to Egypt," Agence France Presse, 27 April 2005.

7 April 2005
Egypt proposes to purchase "over 1,000 portable missile launchers." Russia's Rosoboronexport and the Chinese State Corporation are in competition for the contract. Russia, however, is constrained by promises made to the United States vowing not to sell sensitive military technology to unstable areas.
--Leonid Gankin, "The First Coming of Putin," Kommersant, 26 April 2005.

6 June 2005
Raytheon Co., a United States defense contractor, is given an $11.2 million contract by the U.S. Navy for service to Egypt's Standard Missile-1 (SM-1). This includes "logistics support, depot repair, missile recertification, engineering and technical support."
-- "Raytheon Gets $11.2M Contract from Navy," Associated Press, 6 June 2005.

29 June 2005
The U.S. Department of Defense permits the sale of 25 Avenger air-defense missile launchers to Egypt. [Note: The Avenger is an anti-cruise missile Pedestal Mounted Stinger system produced by Boeing Aerospace Company.] The deal includes 25 High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle carriers for the launchers. The Department of Defense states this sale will "reduce Egypt's dependence on its old Soviet supplied air defense systems and enhance potential interoperability with U.S. forces."
--"US Agrees to Sell Anti-Aircraft Launchers to Egypt," Associated Press, 29, June 2005; "Pentagon Authorizes Sale of 25 Air Defense Units to Egypt," Agence France Presse, 29 June 2005; "Avenger - Pedestal Mounted Stinger," 5 May 2000, <http://www.fas.org>.

30 June 2005
The Commander of the Egyptian Air Defense Forces Lieutenant General Sami Anan states in a news conference that Egypt is establishing a new missile system to augment the ADF's capabilities.
--"Egyptian Air Defense Corps Commander on New Missile System, Other Improvements," Al-Akhbar, 30 June 2005, in FBIS Document GMP20050702007009.

3 August 2005
Egypt’s proposed purchase of 25 Avenger air-defense missile launchers from Boeing Aerospace Company on 27 June 2005 is meant to outfit two “Egyptian short-range air-defense brigades whose SAM components include two six-launch vehicle battalions.”  One Avenger is intended for training purposes or as an operational float.
— David C. Isby, “Egypt Requests More Avenger SAM Launchers,” Jane’s, 3 August 2005.

30 August 2005
Egypt is hosting and participating in the joint military exercise named "Bright Star" in conjunction with the United States and 11 other countries. The operation, beginning 10 September, is due to last through 3 October 2005. It is meant to aid in "readiness and interoperability . . .[to] strengthen ties among U.S., Egyptian participating forces."
--"Washington in Brief," Washington Post, 7 September 2005.

11 November 2005
The new Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Sami Annan, is reportedly expected to consider long-range missiles for the Egyptian arsenal.
— “General Sami Annan,” Intelligence Online, 11 November 2005.

22 November 2005
Egypt is receiving part of a $7.9 million U.S. Department of Defense contract from Raytheon Co. of Tucson, Arizona for full service support of the Standard Missile-1 (SM-1), which is deployed on Egypt's Oliver Perry-type vessels.[Note: The SM-1 is an anti-cruise missile ship-launched missile developed by Raytheon.] The contract is a "firm-fixed-price modification" of an existing contract and is expected to be completed by June 2008.
--"Raytheon Co. Awarded Contract for Full Service Support," Info-Prod Ltd., 23 November 2005; "Egypt Receives SM-1 Missile Support," Middle East Newsline, 23 December 2005; Raytheon, Missile Systems of the World, (Lexington, Massachusetts: AMI International, 1999), p.198.

2 December 2005
The U.S. Department of Defense announces that it has issued a contract for VT Halter Marine, a U.S.-based company, to design and produce up to three fast attack crafts (FACs) for the Egyptian Navy. The first phase is a $28.8 million contract to produce a functional design; the second phase is the production of the fleet. The Egyptian Navy is also receiving a U.S. Defense Department contract from Raytheon to outfit the FACs with the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Mk-49 point-defense system [Note: This is a system that is intended to intercept anti-ship and cruise missiles.] The expected completion date of the contract is March 2009. Also, the Egyptian Navy has placed an order for the Harpoon Block-2 missile system for the FACs [Note: The Harpoon Block-2 missile system is an anti-ship and land-strike system developed by Boeing.]
--Robin Hughes, "Egyptian Fast Missile Boat Programme Revived," Jane's Defence Weekly, 2 December 2005; Nick Brown, "Egyptian Fast Attack Craft Set to Receive RAM System," Jane's Navy International, 22 December 2005; "Egypt Orders Missile Defense for FACs," Middle East Newsline, 22 December 2005; "The Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Guided Missile Weapon System is the World's Most Modern Ship Self-defense Weapon," Raytheon, 9 February 2006; "Harpoon: Overview," Boeing Website, as viewed on 15 February 2006.

3 March 2006
Egypt is alleged to have purchased Boeing's Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) system. [Note: This is a system that upgrades unguided free-fall bombs to "smart" bombs.]
--"Norway Signs Contract for Boeing JDAM," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 3 March 2006; "Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Backgrounder," Boeing website, as viewed on February 2006.

3 April 2006
The second phase of conversions of Egypt's S-125 Pechora missile system to the Pechora-2M system is beginning. [Note: The S-125 Pechora missile system is also known as the SA-3 Goa and is a Russian, surface-to-air, anti-cruise missile system. The Pechora-2M system is a longer range version that can hit multiple targets.] This task is being carried out by the Russian Defense Systems Intergovernmental Industrial and Financial Group. A total of 30 systems are being converted in three phases. The Pechora-2M system will improve the efficiency of the missiles, as well as lengthening the service life. Egypt is also acquiring an electronic warfare system that defends the Pechora-2Ms from anti-radar missiles.
--Nikolai Novichkov, "Russia's Pechora Upgrade for Egypt Begins Second Stage, Jane's Defence Industry, 1 May 2006; Nikolai Novichkov, "Egyptian S-125 SAM Upgrade Moves Ahead," Jane's Defence Weekly, 12 April 2006; "S-125 (SA-3 Goa)," Missile Threat Website, 1 May 2006; Raytheon, Missile Systems of the World, (Lexington, Massachusetts: AMI International, 1999) p. 100.

20 April 2006
A certification for the predicted retransfer of TOW missiles to Egypt from the Royal Netherlands Army is sent to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee from the Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs. [Note: This is a truck-mounted system designed to destroy armored vehicles.]
--U.S. Fed News, "State Dept. Certification of Proposed Retransfer of Defense Articles or Defense Services to Egypt Sent to Senate," U.S. Fed News, 20 April 2006; "M966/M1036 HMMWV TOW Missile Carrier M1045/M1046 HMMWV TOW Missile Carrier," Federation of American Scientists Website, as viewed in April 2006.

27 June 2006
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and Egypt have signed a Foreign Military Sales agreement (FMS) for an undisclosed number of Avenger short-range air defense fire units. According to a statement provided by Boeing, "the $50 million contract includes associated spares and logistics support." The Avenger system has an anti-cruise missile capability, and delivery is due to be completed by September 2008. The purchase will provide Egypt with two more short-range air-defense brigades each consisting of twelve Avenger units.
-- "Boeing Awarded Contract to Build Avengers for Egypt," Boeing, 27 June 2006; Robin Hughes, "Egypt to Get More Avengers," Jane's Defence Weekly, 12 July 2006; Stanley Carvalho, "Boeing Signs $50M Avenger Deal for Egypt," Gulf News, 30 July 2006.

27 June 2006
Boeing concludes a $50 million foreign military sales agreement to supply Egypt with an unknown number of Avenger short-range air defense systems. [Note: This system uses Stinger missiles and is intended for tactical defense and convoy protection from unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and helicopters.] According to Jane's Defence Weekly, this order might be part of a 2005 package that Egypt requested, which included 25 Avenger units. Also, they state that this order will provide Egypt with two more "short-range air-defence brigades of 12 Avenger units per brigade" and one system is to be an "operational float" or a training model. Egypt should receive the systems by September 2008. Boeing provided Avengers to Egypt from 2000-2004 according to another foreign military sales agreement.
--"Boeing Awarded Contract to Build Avengers for Egypt," Boeing, 27 June 2006; Robin Hughes, "Egypt to Get More Avengers," Jane's Defence Weekly, 12 July 2006; Stanley Carvalho, "Boeing Signs $50M Avenger Deal for Egypt," Financial Times, 30 July 2006.

31 July 2006
Madison Research Corp. receives a $35,883,441 "firm-fixed-price contract" to provide Chaparral missile "shelf life items" to Egypt. [Note: The Chaparral missile is a short-range, anti-cruise and anti-unmanned aerial vehicle missile.] The deliveries should be finished by the end of July 2009.
--"US DOD: Contracts," M2 Presswire, 4 August 2006.

2 September 2006
A Turkish report reveals that recently a vessel was stopped by Turkish authorities due to information from the Israeli Mossad that it was bringing weapons to HAMAS, but it was in fact loaded with parts for upgrading Egypt's SA-3 missiles as per a contract with Russia.
--"Lebanese Press Highlights 02 Sep 06," BBC, 5 September 2006.

November 22, 2006
VT Halter Marine, a U.S. shipbuilding firm, receives a $165 million increase to a $28.8 million contract with the U.S. Navy for the design phase of three Fast Missile Craft for Egypt under the foreign sales program. The increase is intended to cover parts for the ships that VT Halter Marine does not fabricate, such as: engines, weapons systems, and transmissions. The total project is estimated to cost $450 million. These are anti-surface, anti-aircraft, and anti-electronic warfare ships that are intended to protect the coastal areas of Egypt from terrorist attack that could disrupt shipping. [Note: See 2 December 2005 entry.]
--Michael Newsom, "Big Day for VT Halter: $165M Contract Increase Gained," The Sun Herald, 23 November 2006.

	Updated April 2007