Agnes Helou
Agnes Helou was a Middle East correspondent for Defense News. Her interests include missile defense, cybersecurity, the interoperability of weapons systems and strategic issues in the Middle East and Gulf region.
All Stories By Agnes
Chinese and Saudi firms create joint venture to make military drones in the kingdom
Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems Co. signed an agreement with China Electronics Technology Group Corp., with the two companies announcing their tie-up during the World Defense Show in Riyadh.
Why did Egypt choose to buy South Korea’s K9 howitzer?
Egypt expressed interest in updating its artillery systems in 2009, but efforts were postponed for nearly a decade amid the Arab Spring. Now the African nation has chosen a system by Hanwha.
Egypt inks $1.7 billion deal for K9 howitzers from South Korea
The K9 accounts for nearly 50 percent of the global self-propelled howitzer market, as it is in service with seven countries.
F-35 fighters, 5G networks, and how the UAE is trying to balance relations between the US and China
The United Arab Emirates recently suspended F-35 acquisition talks amid U.S. concerns over a 5G vendor, but the Middle Eastern country is still carrying on with its network connectivity efforts. Will it circle back to negotiations over the aircraft?
Iran seeks to grow naval power as it prioritizes asymmetric warfare
Experts say the buildup of naval forces in Iran represents a rising threat to its neighboring countries.
Satellite images show Morocco has built an air defense base near its capital
Where is it located? When was it built? What weapons does it feature? We answer that and more.
Iran more than doubles Revolutionary Guard’s budget in FY22 bill
Legislation for Iran's fiscal 2022 budget showns the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will receive $22 billion.
Saudi Arabia decreases defense spending to $46 billion
Saudi Arabia will spend $46 billion on its military in 2022, about a 10% decrease from the 2021 defense budget, according to the kingdom’s fiscal statement.
Egypt to host its first naval defense expo in 2022
But there’s no shortage of regional defense shows already on the books for the next two years.
Egyptian defense expo highlights homemade tech to counter small drones
The Arab Organization for Industrialization and Benha Electronics each showed off their locally made systems.
