US supplies Egypt with 19 M1A1 Abrams Tank turrets

The US delivered five M1A1 Abrams Tank turrets to Egypt, as part of Washington’s continued support for the Egyptian authorities, the US embassy in Cairo revealed yesterday.

In a statement, the embassy said: “The United States delivered five M1A1 Abrams Tank turrets to Cairo East Air Base on July 31 as part of ongoing American security support to Egypt. Built in the State of Ohio, the turrets were flown in directly from the United States and immediately delivered to the Egyptian Tank Plant for US-Egyptian M1A1 tank co-production.”

The statement quoted US Embassy Senior Defence Official in Cairo Major General Charles Hooper as saying: “The co-production of M1A1 tanks in Egypt provides the people and the Armed Forces of Egypt with a strong economic and security capability. The delivery of the turrets will allow over 2,000 Egyptian citizens to work at the production plant, as well as provide the Armed Forces with additional means to fight extremism in the region.”

“The United States’ $1.3 billion commitment this year supports Egypt’s security and military efforts to confront terrorism on several fronts,” the statement added.

The delivery of these tank turrets and resumption of co-production manufacturing of M1A1 Abrams Tanks is the most recent step taken by the US government in support of security partnership with Egypt that has continued for over 30 years, it said.