Special to WorldTribune.com

The Obama administration has approved the sale of additional fighter jets and attack helicopters to Egypt.

The move came amid improved relations between Washington and Cairo and after U.S. defense firms voiced concern that a major market was slipping away in the wake of recent sales by France and Russia to Egypt.

In October, the U.S. announced the possible sale of 24 F-16 C/D Block 50/52 aircraft to Cairo. The sale includes parts, weapons and other equipment and may be as high as $3.2 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

In September, the Obama administration announced it may sell four UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Egypt in a $176 million deal.

Earlier this year, Egypt took delivery of three Rafale fighter jets from France, the first of 24 warplanes sold in a $5.6 billion deal. In September, Cairo purchased two Mistral-class helicopter carriers from France, reportedly paying $1.1 billion. The Mistral ships were built by France for Russia but France scrapped the deal in late 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea.

Russia’s arms sales to Egypt are focused on weapons and equipment for riot control and special operations forces. Experts, though, say Moscow sees improved relations with Egypt as an opening to establish a naval base in the Mediterranean as an alternative to the unsafe Tartus base in Syria.

Russia is looking to revive its Soviet-era naval complex in Alexandria, experts say.

  F-16 C/D Block 50/52, U.S. now wants to increase arms sales to Egypt after rivals moved to fill vacuum, U.S. to increase arms sales to Egypt as relations warm, UH-60M Black Hawk, WorldTribune.com