Egypt agrees to buy 24 US F-16 fighter jets

WASHINGTON Dec 29 (Reuters) - Egypt has struck a deal to buy up to 24 advanced Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16C/D fighter aircraft in a package worth as much as $3.2 billion.

The U.S. and Egyptian governments signed an agreement on Dec. 24 for block 50/52 models that will upgrade Egypt's existing F-16 fleet, said Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's top supplier by sales.

"It is an agreement between the governments," George Standridge, Lockheed Aeronautics' vice president for business development, said in a telephone interview. Lockheed now awaits a U.S. government contract in turn.

The Pentagon told Congress in October the sale could be worth as much as $3.2 billion. (Reporting by Jim Wolf; editing by Leslie Gevirtz)