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Egypt looks to buy 50 advanced armoured vehicles from Russia

August 24, 2017 at 2:32 pm

Egypt is planning to purchase 50 Tigr armoured vehicles from Russia, the CEO of Russia’s Military Industrial Company (VPK) Alexander Krasovitsky, has said.

The Egyptian Ministry of Internal Affairs has expressed interest in the Russian-made armoured vehicles, which would be deployed to police forces once the deal is made.

The GAZ Tigr  4×4 armoured police vehicle is more advanced than current police vehicles and consists of advanced features such as stronger armour, embrasures in the windows, two hatches and tow rope on the roof, an improved braking system, and flexibility in all terrain, including its ability to operate in water 1.2 metres deep.

Speaking in an interview at the Army-2017 international military forum near Moscow, Krasovitsky confirmed that “the issue concerns 50 vehicles and we will probably sign a contract in the near future”.

Read more: Russia discusses arms sales to Algeria, Egypt, Turkey

The vehicle in question has become extremely popular on the international arms market in recent months, with sales rising significantly after the IDEX-2017 international arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February this year.

This proposed deal is one of many that have taken place in recent years. Just last year Russia supplied Egypt with President-S Defence Systems, and this year they signed a $3 billion arms deal for the provision of Russian military equipment to the Egyptian government.

The significant spike in arms deals between Russia and Egypt is due to Egypt’s switch from support to the United States to that of Russia. Historically, Russia was the main arms supplier to Egypt but after the 1979 Camp David Accords the US took over that role.

After the coup in Egypt by Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, tensions increased between Egypt and the US, and so Egypt started to look again towards Russia for its arms and support.