Boeing Awarded Contract to Build Avengers for Egypt
(Source: Boeing Co.; issued June 27, 2006)
[With thanks to www.defense-aerospace.com ]

ST. LOUIS --- Boeing has signed a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement
with the U.S. Army to deliver Avenger short-range air defense fire units to
Egypt. The $50 million contract includes associated spares and logistics
support.

The Avenger is the U.S. Army's mobile, shoot-on-the-move, short-range air
defense system. Armed with Stinger missiles and a 50-caliber machine gun,
Avenger provides effective tactical defense and convoy protection against
helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Avenger is a lethal forward-area air defense system with proven
capabilities deployed worldwide," said Debra Rub-Zenko, vice president and
program director for Boeing Integrated Missile Defense. "Through the
cooperative efforts of the U.S. Army, Boeing is pleased to once again
provide the Egyptian air defenders with increased Avenger force protection
for their nation."

The new contract calls for Boeing to deliver the Avengers by September 2008.
Under a previous FMS contract, Boeing delivered Avengers to Egypt from
2000-2004.

The Egyptian order will allow Boeing to restart the Avenger production line,
which has been dormant since 2004. Having an active production line ensures
Boeing's ability to respond quickly with an affordable short-range air
defense solution for both domestic and international customers.

Boeing assembles the Avenger in Huntsville, Ala. Boeing is the largest
aerospace company in Alabama. Today, the workforce of nearly 3,300 employees
perform leading edge work on an array of key space and defense programs
including the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, International Space Station,
Delta Launch Vehicles, Avenger, Arrow and PAC-3.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of
the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St.
Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billion business. It
provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government
and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military
aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a
foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading provider
of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S.
missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in
sustainment solutions and launch services.

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