Profitable Weapons Sales to Egypt Complicate Diplomatic Response to Coup

Military regimes do love their things that go bang

Last week, as Egyptian security forces killed hundreds of supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, the U.S. Air Force awarded a contract to General Electric to upgrade the Egyptian air force's fighter jets.

The deal, worth nearly $14 million, is to extend the lives of 18 engines used on F-16s and other fighters.

The routine agreement is a reminder of the complexities that might be involved with potentially cutting military ties to Egypt — and of the U.S. jobs at stake. Work on the engine project is scheduled to wrap up Oct. 31 just outside Cincinnati, where GE's aviation business is based.