By the year 2000, Cairo had become a volatile yet vital hub. Following the 1997 Luxor massacre and rising regional instability, Egypt faced immense pressure to secure its primary aerial gateway. Cairo International Airport was handling over 10 million passengers annually, a figure that would triple by 2020. However, its security architecture remained a patchwork of 1970s-era systems—analog CCTV, manual baggage checks, and fragmented perimeter defenses. The "2000-2" designation in MASE indicates the second phase of a broader modernization plan, specifically tailored to Cairo’s unique challenges: extreme urban encroachment (with slums pressing against runway perimeters), high tourist volume, and the need for interoperability with both NATO allies and Israeli aviation authorities.
A well-maintained, refurbished unit with 10,000–15,000 hours currently sells for between EGP 4.5 million and EGP 7 million ($90k – $140k USD), depending on the alternator condition and control panel upgrades. Rental rates range from EGP 250,000 to EGP 400,000 per month for a standby contract. mase 2000-2 cairo