Ukraine has started the delivery of T-72 main battle tanks to Ethiopian army 2911131

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Defence & Security News - Ethiopia
 
 
Friday, November 29, 2013 08:35 AM
 
Ukraine has started the delivery of T-72 main battle tanks to Ethiopian army.
In November 2013, Ukraine's state-controlled arms exporter, Ukrspecexport SC, has begun delivering the upgraded T-72 main battle tanks and related parts to the Ethiopian military. The delivery is a contract signed in 2011 between Ethiopia's defence ministry and the Ukrainian arms firm to purchase 200 T-72 tanks for an amount of $100 million.
     
In November 2013, Ukraine's state-controlled arms exporter, Ukrspecexport SC, has begun delivering the upgraded T-72 main battle tanks and related parts to the Ethiopian military. The delivery is a contract signed in 2011 between Ethiopia's defence ministry and the Ukrainian arms firm to purchase 200 T-72 tanks for an amount of $100 million.
Ethiopian army soldiers during training session with T-72 simulator.
     

The components of the T-72 tanks were upgraded with modern guided weapons, new and powerful engines, reactive armour as well as updated sighting systems and countermeasures.

According to the Global Firepower military power ranking report for 2013, the horn of Africa nation was ranked second on the African continent after Egypt and placed 28th globally.

The Ethiopian military is made up of an army and an air force. In 2012, Ethiopia had an estimated 150,000 personnel in their ground forces and 3,000 air force personnel.

With its border disputes with Eritrea still unresolved and Addis Ababa committed to the African Union's force in neighbouring Somalia, Ethiopia has beefed up its military strength in the past ten years.

Ethiopia is also among the top ten countries that contribute to peacekeeping mission worldwide.

It currently has over 4,000 peacekeeping troops deployed in the contested Abyei region, which is claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan.