This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1997
Egypt obtains ballistic missile-related technology components and equipment from North Korea, a partner in joint ballistic missile development, according to the CIA.
—"CIA Report on Arms Acquisitions by Selected Nations," July 1998, p. 2.

18 March 1997
Aerospace Daily reports that the US Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has said that Egypt is expected to buy Chinese-made anti-ship cruise missiles in the near future.
—"US Navy Sees Growing Mine Warfare Threat," Aerospace Daily, 18 March 1997.

10 April 1997
The Washington Times reports that the US Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has said that China has increased the marketing of its anti-ship cruise missiles in the last two years and that Egypt is a likely customer.
—Bill Gertz, "Beijing Creates Military Monster," Washington Times, 10 April 1997, p. A1.

May 1997
Egypt asks North Korea to provide guidance and control spare parts for Egypt's Scud program, according to US intelligence sources.
—Bill Gertz, "Defector Eyed for Missile Data," Washington Times, 27 August 1997.

31 May 1997
Maj. Gen. Faruq Fayid, chairman of the Sakr factory, says the Fatah-3 missile was recently developed to open gaps in minefields. He says the range of the Sakr and Sakr 36 122mm rockets has been extended to 36km.
—"Report on Military Factories," MENA, 5 May 1997, in FBIS Document ID FTS1997060200151

August 1997
Egypt receives $346,000 worth of US Harpoon launch systems.
—"Mc Donnell Douglas Aerospace won a 17.3 mil Navy contract for Harpoon Launch System," Department of Defense news release, 31 January 1996.

May 1997
The Washington Times reports that, "according to sensitive US intelligence information," North Korea is asked to provide Egypt with spare parts for its Scud-Cs, particularly for its guidance systems.
—Bill Gertz, "CIA Seeks Missile Data from Defector," Washington Times, 27 August 1997.

26 August 1997
A US official announces that North Korea has exported 370 Scud missiles to Arab countries and is capable of producing 150 Scuds per year.
—Barry Schweid, "North Korean Ambassador, Trade Official Defect, Given Asylum in United States," Associated Press, 26 August 1997; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

27 August 1997
North Korea cancels missile talks with the United States after the United States refuses to return two defectors, one of whom is expected to provide information pertaining to North Korean missile sales to Egypt, Iran, and Syria.
—Steven Lee Meyers, "North Koreans Quit Arms Talks over Defections," New York Times, 28 August 1997, p. A1; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; R. Jeffrey Smith, "North Koreans Cancel US Talks: Protesting Diplomats' Defection, Pyongyang Recalls Team on Missile Issues," Washington Post, 28 August 1997, p. A30; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Norman Kempster, "US Accepts 2 Defecting N. Korean Diplomats," Los Angeles Times, 27 August 1997, p. A4; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; US Grants Asylum to Senior North Korean Defectors," Agence France Presse, 27 August 1997; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; "North Korea Pulls Out of Missile Talks with US," Agence France Presse, 27 August 1997; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Jennifer Hewett and Reuter, "N Korea Demands Return of Defectors," The Age (Melbourne), 28 August 1997, p. 15; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; "Foreign Ministry Spokesman Interviewed," Korean Central News Agency, 27 August 1997, <http://www.kcna.co.jp>.

28 August 1997
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit says that an Egyptian ship was searched in the Sea of Marmara and was found to be carrying nuclear missile components.
—"Turkey Intercepts Egypt Missile Parts," United Press International, 2 September 1997.

Early September 1997
The Pentagon notifies Congress that it may sell 32 Harpoon missiles to Egypt.
—James R. Asker, "Let's make a deal," Aviation Week and Space Technology, 8 September 1997; in Lexis-Nexis, <http//www.lexis-nexis.com>.

6 September 1997
North Korea denies allegations made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a visit to South Korea, about North Korea's missile exports to the Middle East. A Foreign Ministry spokesman condemns the allegations as "a foolish effort to justify the military tie-up between Israel and South Korea."
—"DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman on Israeli Prime Minister's Tour of South Korea," Korean Central News Agency, 6 September 1997, <http://www.kcna.co.jp>; Korean Central News Agency, 6 September 1997, in "North Korea Rejects South's, Israeli Allegation of Arms Sale to Middle East," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 8 September 1997; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

19 September 1997
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bob Einhorn claims that North Korea has exported missile technology to several countries in exchange for oil and hard currency. According to Einhorn, North Korea has earned close to $1 billion for its missile exports over the past decade and has become the world's largest missile exporter. Einhorn also claims that North Korea's 1,300km-range Nodong missile is already "in the advanced stage" of development.
—Kyodo News Service, "N. Korea Earned 1 Bil Dlrs in Missile Exports," Japan Economic Newswire, 20 September 1997; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

2 October 1997
The New York Times reports that, according to US intelligence, Egypt has developed the capability to build and launch short-range (185km to 375km) liquid-fueled Scud-type missiles.
—Thomas L. Friedman, "Missile Myopia," New York Times, 2 October 1997.

21 October 1997
Choi Ju-Hwal, a colonel with the North Korean Army who defected to South Korea in 1995, testifies before Congress that North Korea and Egypt have been cooperating in missile-making.
—"North Korea Missile Proliferation," US Congress, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services 21 October 1997.

11 November 1997
Aerospace Daily reports Egypt is receiving slightly more than half [54 percent] of a package of 105 Harpoon missiles, 31 launch kits, 53 sections, 8 spares, 95 shipping containers, integrated logistics support and depot support equipment engineering services.
—"Navy," Aerospace Daily, 11 November 1997.

December 1997
Egypt is receiving 9 percent of Harpoon and SLAM (Standoff Land Attack Missile) missiles worth $139,056,372 from the US Navy.
—"Mc Donnell Douglas Aerospace," Department of Defense news release, 15 August 1995.

First half of 1998
Egypt continues to get ballistic missile parts from North Korea, according to a report published by the CIA in February 1999.
—Usamah al-Ghazali Harb, "Who is destroying US-Egyptian relations?" Al-Ahram (Cairo), 18 February 1999; in FBIS Document FTS19990219000533, 18 February 1999.

12 February 1998
Aerospace Daily reports that Egypt will acquire 42 US Harpoon missiles and containers along with upgrade modification kits for 20 SM-1 missiles. The deal is estimated at $355 million.
—"Egypt Would Get Frigates, Harpoon Missiles," Aerospace Daily, 12 February 1998, p.223; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

27 March 1998
The Washington Times reports that US officials say Egypt has a new 425 mile-range missile called Vector.
—"Pentagon Confirms Details on Iranian Missiles Russia, China Provided Technology," Washington Times, 27 March 1998.

7 April 1998
The chief of the Swiss Federal Police, Urs Von Daeniken, declares that in late 1996 Switzerland blocked sales of Scud-B missile parts shipped from North Korea via China to Egypt. Switzerland seized two shipments at the Zurich airport. The cargo falsely claimed to be parts for bulldozers and machines. This was the first ever discovery of an illegal missile ship through Switzerland, according to Daeniken. The parts were shipped by a North Korean arms supplier. The recipient was an Egyptian company involved with production of chemical and biological weapons, which raised Swiss suspicions. [Note: See 9, 12 and 13 April 1998 entries.]
—"Swiss Blocks N. Korea, China, SCUD Missile Sales to Egypt," Agence France Presse, 7 April 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

9 April 1998
Egypt's ambassador to the United Nations, while in Switzerland, responds to claims by the Swiss federal police chief that Switzerland blocked the sale of Scud parts to Egypt from North Korea in 1996: "It is the first time I have heard about this. If this affair happened in 1996 why was it not disclosed immediately?"
—"Egypt 'Surprised' at Swiss SCUD revelations," Agence France Presse, 9 April 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http//www.lexis-nexis.com>.

12 April 1998
Egypt summons the Swiss ambassador to Egypt to the foreign ministry following allegations by the Swiss federal police chief that Switzerland had discovered and blocked in 1996 an attempt to smuggle Scud missiles to Egypt.
—"Swiss ambassador summoned over missiles to Egypt claim," Agence France Presse, 12 April 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http//www.lexis-nexis.com>.

13 April 1998
Yiftah Shafir of the Jaffe Institute for Strategic Studies says there is limited information available about the Egyptian Al-Badr 2000 missile program, which started in late 1980s with Argentine and Iraqi assistance.
—Amnon Barzilai, "The Chill Wind from the Southwest," Haaretz (Tel Aviv), 13 April 1998, <http://www3.haaretz.co.il>.

13 April 1998
The Egyptian government has requested details regarding a claim made by Urs von Daeniken, Swiss federal police chief, that in late 1996 Swiss authorities intercepted an illegal shipment of SCUD ballistic missile parts en route to Egypt. According to von Daeniken, the shipment was halted at the Zurich airport after federal police learned of its contents. The shipment was labeled as bulldozer parts but in fact contained parts for the Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher used by Egyptian forces. It is believed to have come from an arms procurement agency in North Korea, and to have been transshipped via China for export to Egypt.
—"Egypt Seeks Answers on Swiss Scud Missile Transfer Story" Haaretz (Tel Aviv) 13 April 1998 <http://www3.haaretz.co.il>.

21 April 1998
During his tour of the Middle East, US Defense Secretary William Cohen states that the United States will provide Egypt with 50 mobile missile launchers as well as missiles and other weaponry, in addition to the annual military aid of $1.3 billion.
—Qi Deliang, "Cohen Visit to the Middle East—A Trip Mostly for Arms Sales," Xinhua Domestic Service (Beijing), 21 April 1998; in "China: 'Roundup' on Trip by US Defense Secretary to Middle East," FBIS Document FBIS-CHI-98-114, 24 April 1998.

5 June 1998
Egypt's former Defense Minister Field Marshal Abdelhalim Abu-Ghazala says nations like Egypt need not employ the threat of nuclear attack as sole deterrent against Israeli aggression. Ghazala believes that reliance on long-range, high-precision missiles with powerful warheads can provide sufficient deterrence, noting the degree of panic caused in Israel by the relatively inaccurate Scud missiles fired at the country during the 1991 Gulf War.
—"Arab Deterrent Need Not Be Nuclear, Says Egypt's Ex-Defense Chief," Mideast Mirror, 5 June 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

5 June 1998
The Hindu writes that China may have missile dealings with Egypt, among other countries.
—"Expose may put Clinton Govt. in a spot," Hindu, 5 June 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

July 1998
The CIA reports that Egypt obtained in 1997 ballistic missile-related technology components and equipment from North Korea, a partner in joint ballistic missile development.
—"CIA Report On Arms Acquisitions by Selected Nations," July 1998, p. 2.

31 July 1998
President Mubarak says he is astonished by concern over reports that Egypt is developing Scud missiles while other states in the region have longer range missiles.
—"Egypt's Mubarak says Middle East situation 'Getting more complicated,'" MENA (Cairo), in BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 31 July 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

1 August 1998
A Cairo newspaper editorial criticizes the United States for its concern over Egypt's possession of missiles while remaining silent on Israel's longer-range missiles.
—Abbas Tarabill, "Egypt's missiles and Israel's missiles," Al-Wafd (Cairo), 1 August 1998; in "Paper raps US-Israeli campaign against Egypt's missiles," in FBIS Document FTS19980806002129, 1 August 1998.

1 August 1998,
Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa denies that Egypt is developing medium- or long-range missiles.
—"Egypt says no medium-range Scud missiles possessed," Xinhua, 1 August, 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

9 August 1998
An Al-Ahram editorial affirms that the United States criticizes Egypt's Scud missiles because it wants Israel to have missile and nuclear superiority over Egypt.
— Cairo Press Review, 9 August 1998; in FBIS Document FTS19980809000465, 9 August 1998.

September 1998
Aaron Karp, a Senior Faculty Associate at Old Dominion University, writes that Egypt appears to be receiving new installments of technical assistance from North Korea, probably supporting improved Scuds.
—Aaron Karp, "Lessons of Iranian Missile Programs for US Nonproliferation Policy," The Non-proliferation Review, Summer 1998 Vol. 5, Number 3.

4 September 1998
The Pentagon reports that Egypt is receiving missile and space intelligence command lab support services worth $42.5 million from Sparta Inc.
—"Sparta Inc." Department of Defense News Release, 4 September 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

25 September 1995
Hatzofe reports that Egypt is developing a 1,500km-range missile.
—"Egypt war preparations against IDF viewed," Hatzofe (Tel Aviv), 25 September 1998; in FBIS Document FTS19981116001257, 25 September 1998.

November 1998
Aerospace Daily reports Egypt is buying Harpoon Weapon Station seeker test assemblies with associated spare parts for $1,810,331.40.
—"Air Force," Aerospace Daily, 14 May 1996.

23 November 1998
Al-Ittihad reports that Egypt has agreed to the purchase of the Russian S-300 surface-to-air missiles to increase its defense capabilities against aircraft and ballistic missiles.
—"'Patriotski' in a Strategic Deal for Hundreds of Millions, Egypt is Headed Towards the Purchase of Russian S-300 Missiles," al-Ittihad (Abu Dhabi), 23 November 1998, <http://www.alittihad.co.ae>.

2 December 1998
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the US firm Boeing has been awarded a contract worth about $245 million to produce 217 Harpoon 1G anti-ship missiles, some of which would be delivered to Egypt.
—Song Kyung M., "Boeing to Make Missiles for Overseas Buyers," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2 December 1998.

8 December 1998
Aerospace Daily reports Egypt is purchasing 33.2 percent of a package of 217 Harpoon missiles, four ballistic air test vehicles, nine launch kits, five midcourse guidance units, six guidance sections, four sustainer sections, four booster sections, two exercise sections, nine booster kit assemblies, and 159 containers.
—"McDonnell Douglas Corp.," Aerospace Daily, 8 December 1998; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

1999
Egypt steps up its intermediate-range missile program, termed Al-Fatah by a US defense source, which includes the participation of Libya and which has used parts and technology from Iraq and China. Also in 1999, the number of North Koreans working on missile projects begins to increase in Egypt and in Libya, where much of Egypt's missile development is reportedly done.
—"Israel doesn't fear Egypt's Nodong missile," Middle East Newsline, Vol 3 No. 276, 16 July 2001; "Up to 300 N. Koreans aid Egypt's missile program," Middle East Newsline, Vol. 3 No. 242, 21 June 2001.

February 1999
The CIA publishes a report that says, "Egypt is continuing its efforts to develop and produce Scud-B and Scud-C missiles and to develop two-stage, short-range Vector ballistic missiles. Cairo is also interested in producing medium-range ballistic missiles. In the first half of 1998 Egypt continued to acquire ballistic missile components and related equipment from North Korea. This activity is part of a long-range program of cooperation between these two countries in the sphere of ballistic missiles."
—Usamah al-Ghazali Harb, "Who is destroying US-Egyptian relations?" Al-Ahram (Cairo), 18 February 1999; in FBIS Document FTS19990219000533, 18 February 1999.

13 February 1999
Egyptian General Salah Halabi says the Arab Organization for Industrialization has upgraded the Sakr-40 surface-to-surface missile.
—"Cairo press review via internet 14 March 1999," Cairo Press Review, 14 March 1999; in FBIS Document FTS19990314000724, 14 March 1999.

11 March 1999
Jane's Defence Weekly reports that Egypt has sought to expand its surface-to-surface missile (SSM) inventories. According to Jane's, Egypt also possesses ballistic missiles and is believed to have continued a clandestine missile program as an extension of the Condor project. US and Israeli sources have said that Egypt has acquired North Korean intermediate-range missile technology.
—"Ballistic Missile Forces Shifting Balance," Jane's Defence Weekly, 11 March 1999.

11 March 1999
The United States offers to sell 32 Patriot missiles to Egypt.
—"In brief," Middle East Economic Report, 19 March 1999; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

19 March 1999
Egypt acquires 24 Northrop Grumman [NOC] AN/APG-68 radars, capable of being integrated with Boeing's Harpoon anti-ship missile.
—"Hill Notifies of F-16s for Egypt, F-11s for Australia," Defense Daily, 14 April 1999.

23 March 1999
The US State Department implements sanctions against three Egyptian firms for "transferring dual-use technology and missile components" to North Korea. The firms are: Arab-British Dynamics, Helwan Machinery and Equipment Company, and Kader Factory for Developed Industries. Israeli and US intelligence sources reportedly say they believe Egypt has transferred technology acquired from participation in the Condor missile program. Egypt ended its participation in the program in the late 1980s under US pressure.
—Steve Rodan, "Israel, USA Claim Egyptian Missile Links with N Korea," Jane's Defence Weekly, Vol. 33, No. 8, 23 February 2000.

14 April 1999
Jane's Defence Weekly reports that North Korea is suspected of selling Scud-B and -C missiles to Egypt.
—Robert Karniol, "Vietnam Stocking Up 'Scuds'," Jane's Defence Weekly, 14 April 1999, p.17.

Mid 1999
US Secretary of Defense William Cohen raises the issue of Egypt-North Korean missile cooperation during his visit to Cairo. According to Jane's Defence Weekly, sources in US and Israeli intelligence agencies believe Egyptian firms are sending missile technology from the US and other Western countries to North Korea.
—Steve Rodan, "Israel, USA Claim Egyptian Missile Links with N Korea," Jane's Defence Weekly, Vol. 33, No. 8, 23 February 2000.

July 1999
North Korea ships specialty steel with missile applications to Egypt. The steel is shipped through a Chinese firm in Hong Kong.
—Bill Gertz, "North Korea Continues To Develop Missiles; Sells Technology to Rogue Nations," Washington Times, 28 October 1999, p. A1; Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr., "A History of Ballistic Missile Development in the DPRK," Occasional Paper No. 2, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, November 1999, p. 26.

17 July 1999
The Washington Post reports that the CIA says Egypt is trying to buy technology for improved missiles.
—Steven Mufson, "Losing the Battle on Arms Control; Pakistan-India Nuclear Race is Just Part of a Disturbing Trend," Washington Post, 17 July 1999, p. A01.

13 August 1999
The Jerusalem Post reports that Egypt has a missile brigade of Scud-Bs and one of Frog-7s, plus perhaps some Scud-Cs.
—"Is Egypt the new enemy?" Jerusalem Post, 13 August 1999; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

23 August 1999
The Los Angeles Times reports that Kang Thae Yun, a North Korean diplomat and arms dealer who allegedly facilitated transfers between North Korea and Pakistan, is also suspected of arranging to send missile parts to Egypt.
—Dexter Filkins, "N. Korea aid to Pakistan raises nuclear fears," Los Angeles Times, 23 August 1999; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

30 August 1999
Al-Wasat reports that Egypt's limited missile program is a result of Cairo's stance in favor of removing weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East. The report says that Egypt's "Project-T" program, begun in the early 1990s to develop a medium-range ballistic missile based on the Scud-B, is the backbone of its strategic missile deterrent.
—"A dangerous race in a multi-axial world: The missiles club in the Middle East: The century of mass destruction," Al-Wasat (London) 30 August 1999; in FBIS Document FTS19990903000290, 30 August 1999.

16 September 1999
Robert Walpole, CIA national intelligence officer for strategic and nuclear programs, tells the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, "I ended up working to help stop the Condor II program being worked on by Argentina, Iraq and Egypt. Had it come to fruition, it would have made the Nodong and Taepodong-1 look like toys. It would have been a much better system." [Note: there is speculation that Egypt may have transferred technology from the Condor program to North Korea].
—Steve Rodan, "Israel, USA Claim Egyptian Missile Links with N Korea," Jane's Defence Weekly, Vol. 33, No. 8, in Lexis-Nexis, <.

12 October 1999
Defense Week reports that the US government sold Egypt equipment used in the construction of ballistic missiles, specifically the equipment to help build the gun barrel of M1A1 Abrams Tanks, which can also used to develop ballistic missiles.
—"US Accidentally Sold Missile Tech to Egypt," Defense Week, 12 October 1999.

21 October 1999
CNN reports that William Cohen, US defense secretary, has urged Egypt to move forward on the purchase of US-built Patriot air defense missiles to address the emerging missile proliferation threat.
—"Cohen Urges Egypt to Buy Patriot Missile," CNN, 21 October 1999, <http://www.cnn.com>.

28 October 1999
The Washington Times reports that a shipment of steel used for missiles arrived in Egypt via Hong Kong in July 1999 from North Korea.
—Bill Gertz, "North Korea Continues to Develop Missiles," Washington Times, 28 October 1999, p. 1.

12 November 1999
A commentary in Haaretz says the United States is forgiving transfers of Scud parts from North Korea to Egypt because the United States wants to improve relations with Egypt and because Egypt is a major military client.
—Ze'ev Schiff, "View from the Nile," Haaretz (Tel Aviv), 12 November 1999; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

22 December 1999
Haaretz reports that Egypt has doubled the number of missile launchers this year from 10 or 12 to 24, with about 10 missiles per launcher.
—Amnon Barzilai, "News: In the Middle East, more missiles, same old threats," Haaretz, 22 December 1999; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.

	Updated October 2003