The US has offered to sell Egypt 201 surplus M109A2 and A3 self-propelled 155mm howitzers for $77 million, including refurbishment, radios, spare parts, and training. Egypt bought 164 M109A2s as new production a few years ago. These will replace worn-out Russian-made guns. Egypt is building towed Finnish Patria Vammas 52-caliber 155mm howitzers under license. Egypt is close to signing a deal to buy 50 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems from the US to replace older Russian-made rocket launchers used by two battalions. Egypt has also agreed to pay $241 million to upgrade its 35 AH-64A attack helicopters into AH-64Ds.--Stephen V Cole