The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale (FMS) of 120mm ammunition rounds for military battle tank fleets to Egypt.

With an estimated cost of $99m, the potential deal has been approved by the US State Department.

Under the deal, Egypt has requested for the acquisition of 46,000 units of 120mm Target practice – tracer (M831A1) and 120mm target practice, cone stabilised, discarding sabot – (M865) rounds, and 10,000 units of 120mm fourth-generation kinetic energy-tungsten (KE-W) A4 armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot with tracer (APFSDS-T) rounds.

The possible sale will also include the delivery of 4,500 120mm insensitive munitions high explosive with tracer (IM HE-T) cartridges, in addition to associated testing inspections, spares and repair parts, and support and test equipment.

“The FMS is expected to support the US foreign policy and national security objectives and enable Egypt to meet current and future threats.”

Furthermore, the country has requested for the provision of US Government contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and programme support.



Once delivered, Egypt intends to use the 120mm IM HE-T ammunition rounds to maintain a strategic munitions inventory for its M1A1 Abrams tanks, while the target practice rounds will be used to train the crew of the M1A1 vehicles.

With an aim to improve the defensive capabilities of the country, Egypt plans to use the APFSDS-T ammunition to replace the existing 120mm KE-W, KE-W Al and KE-W A2 rounds in order to maintain a strategic munitions inventory for its M1A1 tank fleet.

The FMS is expected to support the US foreign policy and national security objectives and enable Egypt to meet current and future threats.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems will serve as the principal contractor for the proposed sale.