Boeing brings Avengers to Egypt

News

Boeing has signed a Foreign Military Sales agreement with the US Army to deliver Avenger short-range air defence fire units to Egypt

Boeing

has signed a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US Army to deliver Avenger short-range air defence fire units to

Egypt

. The $50 million contract includes associated spares and logistics support.

The Avenger is the US Army's mobile short-range air defence system. Armed with Stinger missiles and a 50-calibre machine gun, it is designed to provide tactical defence and convoy protection against helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Avenger is a lethal forward-area air defence system with proven capabilities deployed worldwide," said Debra Rub-Zenko, vice president and programme director for Boeing Integrated Missile Defense. "Through the cooperative efforts of the US Army, Boeing is pleased to once again provide the Egyptian air defenders with increased Avenger force protection for their nation."

The new contract calls for Boeing to deliver the Avengers by September 2008. Under a previous FMS contract, Boeing delivered Avengers to Egypt from 2000 to 2004. The Egyptian order will allow Boeing to restart the Avenger production line, which has been dormant since 2004.