I don't see too much of a problem with the Eryx... if only for this reason. The MEC is supposed to be an alliance of nations which have banded together ala NATO/WARSAW Pact for lack of a better analogy. They certainly would be able to reasses the needs of their collective forces and start replacing equipment to give them a better footing against potential enemies.
In the real world the Eryx is a weapon which has been made in some numbers (in 9 years 50,000 missiles had been made along with 3500 firing posts). We know Canada, France, Norway, Brazil and Malaysia have ordered the weapon of course. But probably what the game designers were looking at were reports from 1999 stating that a order had been placed by a customer in the Gulf Co-opertation Council. Below is the info on the GCC which perhaps inspired the MEC?
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf (Arabic: مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية), formerly named Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (مجلس التعاون الخليجي) is a regional organization involving six Middle Eastern nations with the many economic and social objectives in mind. Created May 25, 1981, the Council is comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Among the stated objectives are:
* Formulating similar regulations in various fields such as economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, and administration
* Fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources
* Establishing scientific research centres
* Setting up joint ventures
* Encouraging cooperation of the private sector
* Strengthening ties between their peoples