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Updated October 2008
Missile Chronology
2007
This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
January 2007
Raytheon Co. is awarded the contract to provide support for Egypt's SM-1 missile fleet. Missile assembly, testing and delivery are included in the contract.
[Note: The SM-1 is a medium-range naval air defense cruise missile.]
— "Raytheon Gets 60 mln usd of Contracts for Standard Missile-1 Support Services," AFX International Focus, 10 January 2007; "Raytheon Strikes SM-1 Deal with Egypt and Spain," Jane's Defense Weekly," 22 January 2007; Raytheon, Missile Systems of the World, (Lexington, Massachusetts: AMI International, 1999), p198.
25 February 2007
The Jerusalem Post reports that Egypt is preparing to launch a surveillance-satellite in March. The report claims the first satellite will be launched from Kazakhstan and that a second satellite is being constructed in Italy, with completion anticipated by the end of the year.
— Yaakov Katz, "Egypt to launch first spy satellite Tuesday," Jerusalem Post, 15 January 2007; "Iran Rocket Test 'wake up' Call," United Press International, 25 February 2007.
19 March 2007
Boeing has renewed its contract to provide the Egyptian government with the Avenger defense system. According to the contract, Egypt should receive the Avengers by September 2008. Prior to this order, Boeing delivered the system to Egypt from 2000-2004. [Note: The Avenger is a pedestal mounted Stinger. It is a "man-portable shoulder or platform fired, anti-cruise/aircraft missile for Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD)."]
— "Egypt to Receive Avenger Low-Level Air Defense System," Inside the Army, 19 March 2007; Raytheon, Missile Systems of the World, (Lexington, Massachusetts: AMI International, 1999), p.204; "Avenger (Pedestal Mounted Stinger)," Military Analysis Network, Federation of American Scientists Website, www.fas.org/man/dod-101/svs/land/avenger.htm, March 2007.
27 March 2007
Russia announces that the launch of its Dnepr rocket will be delayed. The rocket will carry Egypt's MisrSat-1 satellite into orbit. The launch was originally scheduled for March 27, 2007, but will now be launched the on the 17th or 18th of April.
— Russia Satellite Launch from Baikonur Delayed," BBC, 27 March 2007.
17 April 2007
Russia successfully launched its Dnepr rocket, which sent Egypt's MisrSat-1 satellite into orbit alongside satellites from Saudi Arabia, and the United States, among others. The MisrSat-1 is "intended for remote sensing of Earth and scientific research.
— "Russia's RS-20B Missile to Remain on Combat Duty," BBC, 17 April 2007; "Dnepr Rocket Launches 14 Satellites," Agence France Presse, 17 April 2007; "Russian Rocket Launches Cluster of Foreign Satellites, Including 7 Built by U.S. Students," Associate Press, 17 April 2007.
20 April 2007
Raytheon's Skyguard "Amoun" successfully test fired a missile at a test range near Cairo. The Skyguard Amoun consists of "two launchers, each with four missiles, two 35 mm guns, and a fire control radar." The new battery will upgrade Egypt's air defense system, with all 40 of Egypt's Amoun launchers upgrading to this solid-state transmitter.
— Skyguard AMOUN Scores Direct Hit in Live Missile Firing Using Raytheon-Upgraded Launcher," United Press International, 20 April 2007.
26 June 2007
Recent moves by the U.S. Congress to place requirements on $200 million of the foreign military financing (FMF) offered to Egypt by the United States could jeopardize the Egyptian military's fast missile craft program. VT Halter Marine, the U.S. shipyard for Singapore Technologies Engineering won the contract to "procure materials for the Phase 2 construction work on the Egyptian Navy's three missile-armed fast missile craft." The actual work for Phase 2 is expected to be awarded in 2008. Any changes in military funding, and the proposed withholding of $200 million by the United States could leave the VT Halter Marine contract as well as Egypt's Fast Missile Craft program in jeopardy.
— Jon Grevatt, "VT Halter Marine wins Egyptian ships work for USN," Jane's Defense Industry, 26 June 2007; Tara Copp, " US Congress votes to withhold FMF funds for Egypt," Jane's Defense Industry, 27 June 2007; Tara Copp, " Egypt's Fast Missile Craft programme faces uncertainty," Jane's Defense Industry, 27 June 2007.
30 July- 24 August 2007
The United States has announced its plans to increase military assistance to Egypt. The proposed package to Egypt is a 10 year, $13 billion deal. Washington also proposed new arms packages for other states in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Alongside these new deals was a significant increase in military aid to Israel.
— Nathan Hodge, "US plans greater military assistance for gulf states," Jane's Defense Weekly, 3 August 2007; "Bush to forge big arms deals to counter Iran," The New Zealand Herald, 30 July 2007; Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, "Mideast: U.S. Arms Sales Stoke Arab-Israeli Tensions," Inter Press Service, 20 August 2007; "Pentagon announces possible weapons sales to Egypt, Israel," Agence France Presse, 24 August 2007; Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, "Massive military-aid packages and arms sales to Arab allies; Mideast: U.S. Arms Create New Divisions," IPS (Latin America), 22 August 2007.
2 August 2007
In reaction to a vote by the United States Senate to withhold part of its annual military aid to Egypt to pressure the country to crack down on weapons smuggling through Gaza and improve its human rights record, the Prime Minister, Ahmad Nazif said the country "will not accept conditional aid whatever the price is."
— "Egypt Will Not Accept Conditional Aid "Whatever the Price is,"" BBC, 2 August 2007.
21 September 2007
Russia has signed an agreement to sell Egypt the anti-aircraft, gun-missile systems Shilka-Strelets, as well as begin training members of the Egyptian military at Russian Military Colleges. It remains to be finalized when Egypt will receive the weapons. [Note: The Shilka-Strelets system is a"hybrid air-defense platform incorporating Strelets anti-aircraft missiles onto a self-propelled ZSU23-4-M4 automatic anti-aircraft gun mount. It is capable of engaging airplanes, helicopters, and cruise missiles."]
— "Russia sells missile systems to Egypt, trains servicemen," BBC Monitoring, 21 September 2007; M. Ritchie, "Russia Signs Air Defense Contract with Egypt," Forecast International, 25 September 2007, <http://www.fi-zap.com/abstract.cfm?recno=139806>.
2 October 2007
As part of Egypt's arms package from the United States, the country is slated to receive 139 RIM-116B Block 1A Rolling Airframe Missiles. The missiles will be provided by Raytheon and be used to arm the country's Ambassador-class fast attack craft. The boats will also be equipped with the "Mk 31 guided-missile system RAM guided system and the Mk 15B Phalanx close-in weapon system." The missiles along with support and related services are worth $125 million. [Note: The RIM-116 Block 1A Rolling Airframe Missile is a "self-defense system that will provide an improved capability to engage and defeat incoming anti-ship cruise missiles. It ... utilizes SIDEWINDER technology for the warhead and rocket motor, and the STINGER missile's seeker."]
— Tim Fish, "Egypt awaits US FMS FAMs," Jane's Navy International, 2 October 2007; "Egypt Buying $125 Million Worth of RAM Block 1A, Support and Service," Defense Daily International, 19 October 2007; " RIM-116 RAM Rolling Airframe Missile." Federation of American Scientists, http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/ram.htm.
5 October 2007
Egypt is attempting to buy 164 Stinger Block 1 missiles, 25 Avengers, and 12 fly-to-buy missiles from the United States. The Stinger Block 1 missiles would be configured for vehicle launch only. The deal is worth around $83 million. [Note: The Stinger Block 1 Missile "provides forward, short-range air defense against low-altitude airborne targets.]
— Donald McFarlane, "Egypt looks to purchase Stinger Block 1 missiles," Jane's Defense Industry, 5 October 2007; "Egypt Buying $125 Million Worth of RAM Block IA, Support and Service," Defense Daily International, 19 October 2007; "FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System: RMP & Basic," Federation of American Scientists, http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/stinger.htm.
8 December 2007
An Israeli government report confirms that, in the early 1990s, Israel had secret talks with North Korea to attempt to halt the proliferation of North Korean ballistic missile technology throughout the Middle East. Specifically, Israel was concerned about North Korea’s sale of ballistic missiles to Egypt.
— "North Korea, Israel said had ‘Top-Secret’ Missile Talks in Early 1990s," BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 8 December 2007; "North Korea’s Nuclear Threat: DPRK Aid to Syria Could Spark Fire in Middle East," The Daily Yomiuri, 13 November 2007.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2008
by MIIS.
