In a weapons deal worth more than $1.6 billion, Egypt is set to import South Korean equipment to maintain the fight against local and global terrorism.
A summit held in Cairo between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi led to the announcement that Egypt would buy K9 Thunder 155 mm self-propelled howitzers from South Korea’s Hanwha Defense Co.
The agreement, signed in February 2022, includes a transfer of technology so that Egypt can manufacture some of the artillery through the Egyptian Ministry of Defense and Military Production.
“It is an achievement made through a combination of technological cooperation, collaboration in terms of localized production and pan-government support, which goes beyond just the transactional relationship between the two nations,” said Kang Eun-ho, head of the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
As part of a plan to upgrade its military, Egypt is building new bases, expanding naval and air power and importing cutting-edge weapons. Aside from manufacturing arms domestically, Egypt has struck large deals with nations such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Italy.
In November 2021, the U.S. Department of State announced a $2.5 billion arms sale to Egypt, mostly financed by the U.S. Foreign Military Financing Program. The deal includes 12 Super Hercules C-130 transport aircraft and related equipment as well as air defense radar systems.
Sources: Yonhap News Agency, Al-Ahram