The U.S. State Department has approved possible military sales worth $99 million to Egypt, including M831A1, M865 and APFSDS-T 122mm tank rounds, the Pentagon said on Monday.
According to the statement fo the State Department, the Government of Egypt has requested to buy 46,000 M831A1 and M865 rounds and 10,000 APFSDS-T rounds for its M1A1 tank fleet.
“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East,” noted in the stetamnet.
The proposed sale will improve Egypt’s capability to meet current and future threats and provide greater security for its critical infrastructure.
Egypt will use the 120MM IM HE-T cartridges to maintain a strategic munitions inventory for its M1A1 tank fleet and in support of operations against militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the Sinai.
They will use the target practice rounds to train M1A1 crews in proper crew procedures in a training environment using munitions that cost a fraction of tactical rounds and have nearly zero explosive or penetrating capability. Egypt has been producing this type of ammunition under an existing co-production agreement for approximately 15 years.
Egypt intends to use the APFSDS-T rounds to replace older model 120MM KE-W, KE-W Al, and KE-W A2 ammunition to maintain a strategic munitions inventory for its M1A1 tank fleet. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing these munitions into its armed forces.
The prime contractor involved in this program is General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, St. Petersburg, FL.
Implementation of this proposed sale will involve multiple trips to Egypt involving up to six (6) U.S. Government and contractor representatives over a period of up to 5 years.