US approves Egypt’s Maritime Domain Awareness system

The United States has approved a Foreign Military Sale of a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system and related equipment to Egypt for an estimated cost of $417 million.

The Government of Egypt requested a possible sale of a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system that includes multi-site Acquisition Radars (fixed and mobile) with supporting facilities, Electro-Optical/Infrared Sensors (fixed, mobile, airborne), Radio Communications suites, Hybrid Power Generation Systems, Closed Circuit Television, Power and Data Distribution Units, Automatic Identification System, and various other surveillance and communications systems.

Also, other related equipment includes: thirty-four Integrated Fixed Towers with supporting equipment; twenty-eight Communication Towers with supporting equipment; twelve Relay Towers with supporting equipment; six Naval Base Operations Rooms, two regional Operations Centers, and one Strategic Operation Center all with supporting equipment; six Harbor Protection Systems with supporting equipment; Intelligent Fiber Intrusion Detection System; twelve Vertical Take Off and Landing UAV with six Ground Stations; fourteen Mobile Maritime Surveillance Vehicles; and, three Aerostat ISR Integrated Platform with supporting equipment.

Following the request, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of this possible sale earlier this month.

Marine Domain Awareness involves collectively using technological aid to help better maritime law enforcement. Some of the technological devices that are utilised as a part of the Maritime Domain Awareness can be mentioned as follows:

Automatic Identification System (AIS)
Long range radars
Long range unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

The estimated total program cost is $417 million. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally country that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East.

Egypt intends to use this Maritime Domain Awareness system to provide the Egyptian Armed Forces with a maritime surveillance capability with real-time situational awareness in the defense of Egypt maritime boundary, natural resources, and ports. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The prime contractor will be the Advanced Technology Systems Company (ATSC), McLean, VA.