Home Americas US clears excess MRAP sale to UAE, Apache upgrades for Egypt

US clears excess MRAP sale to UAE, Apache upgrades for Egypt

Maxxpro MRAP vehicle in Kabul
US defense department file photo of a Maxxpro MRAP vehicle in Kabul

The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of up to 4,569 mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles to the United Arab Emirates for an estimated cost of $556 million.

These vehicles will be coming from US Army stocks as excess defense articles (EDA). The required EDA Congressional Notifications were made August 6, 2014.

The batch of MRAP vehicles UAE has been cleared to buy consists of a mix of MaxxPro long wheel base, MaxxPro recovery vehicle, MaxxPro LWB chassis, MaxxPro Dash, MaxxPro bases capsule, MaxxPro MEAP capsules, MaxxPro plus, Caiman multi-terrain vehicles without armor, Caiman base, Caiman plus, Caiman capsule, and MRAP all-terrain vehicles (MATV).

“The UAE intends to utilize the MRAP vehicles to increase force protection, to conduct humanitarian assistance operations, and to protect critical infrastructure. Additionally, these MRAPs will enhance the UAE’s burden sharing capacity and defensive capabilities,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an announcement on May 7.

Egypt Apache upgrade

On the same day, the agency announced that Egypt was approved to buy equipment necessary for the refurbishment of 43 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

The upgrades are worth an estimated $2.3 billion, according to the agency, and include engines, navigation, missile warning and weapon systems.

More specifically, Egypt is looking to upgrade its Apaches with AN/ASQ-170 target acquisition sights, AAR-57 common missile warning systems, laser detecting sets, and communication systems upgrades. Weapon systems to be acquired include Hellfire launchers, 2.75 inch 19 tube rocket launchers, M230 automatic guns and spare gun barrels, among other.