Egypt Looking for more AGM-114K Hellfire II Missiles

Hellfire II

Dec 18/09: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency formally announces [PDF] Egypt’s request to buy another 450 AGM-114K3A Hellfire II missiles, plus spare and repair parts, test and tool sets, personnel training and equipment, publications, and U.S. Government and contractor support. Egypt already has AGM-114K missiles in its inventory, to equip its AH-64D Apache attack helicopters. As such, implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Egypt. The prime contractor is HELLFIRE Ltd., LLC, and the estimated cost is $51 million.

The AGM-114K is the standard Hellfire II anti-armor missile, with a tandem warhead to defeat reactive armor and new features that include semi-active laser homing, a digital autopilot, target reacquisition after lost laser lock, and better resistance to laser countermeasures.

Note that a DSCA announcement is not a sale; if Congress does not block the sale, negotiations may proceed. In this case, the DSCA adds that: “The missiles will be provided in accordance with, and subject to the limitation on use and transfer provided under the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, as embodied in the Letter of Offer and Acceptance.” While this request in likely to be uncontroversial, Egypt’s simultaneous request for Harpoon Block II anti-ship and land-attack missiles has created far more concern in Israel.