Breaking news
Egypt to restart M1 Abrams production 41910154.
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Defence & Security News - (Egypt)
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| Egypt to restart M1 Abrams production | |||
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Egypt and the United States have reached an agreement to resume the production of GDLS M1 Abrams tanks. According to the Egyptian, Aswat Masriya newspaper, the agreement was signed between Mohammed Al Assar, Minister of State for Military Production, Robert Stephen Beecroft, the US ambassador in Cairo, and Donald Schenk, VP of General Dynamics.
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 A GDLS M1A2 Abrams tank (Source: US Army) |
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The two countries have been steadily growing their military ties. Increasing the domestic production and promoting the exchange of expertise, in the military and heavy industry sectors, was at the centre of their discussions. The agreement to resume the production of the M1 Abrams tanks is a proof of the renewed approach. The bilateral relations had reached a low point two years ago, when the military ousted former Islamist President Mohammed Morsi from power. As a result of this move and the violence that erupted by supporters of the President, the United Stated decided to freeze its military support to Egypt. That resulted in a halt in the M1 tanks’ production. The support resumed last May, when Cairo received its first batch of eight Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52 fighter aircraft. Upon the lifting of the hold of military exports, Egypt has received 20 Boeing Harpoon missiles. In addition to the above, five M1A1 Abrams turrets were delivered at the end of July, as part of the co-production of these tanks. They are part of a larger contract for 125 tanks, that will bring their overall number in the Egyptian Army’s inventory to 1,130. More deliveries will follow as production will continue. The USD395 million contract was signed in 2011 and the first deliveries started in July 2013 and were almost immediately put on hold. |
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