On November 15, an official of Russia’s Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation told the state-run media agency RIA Novosti that Russia is committed to export S-300VM long range air defense systems to Egypt. The official also confirmed to RIA Novosti that Egypt already received some of the systems according to the contract.
“The Russian side will fulfill its obligation regarding the contract to export long range air defense system [to Egypt]” the official told RIA Novosti at Dubai Air Show 2017.
On June 7, Russian sources published a photo of the first shipment of S-300VM systems to Egypt. Egyptian sources said back then that Egypt received its first system during 2016.
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On October 6, new photos that show several 9S32ME radars in Russia before shipping to Egypt were published by Russian sources. The 9S32ME radar is the main Radar of the S-300VM system.
Click to see the full-size image
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Egypt is set to receive one regiment which includes three divisions of S-300VM systems according to $1 billion contract that was signed with Russia back on 2014. The Egyptian Army bought the export version of the S-300VM, which is known as the Antey-2500.
The Antey-2500 long range air defense system can detect up to 65 aerial targets, and got a detection range of over 300km. The system can be armed with 9M82ME missiles with 200km range and maximum altitude of 25km, or 9M83ME missiles with a 130km range and a maximum altitude of 25km also. Antey-2500 also got anti-ballistic missiles capabilities.
After the 2013 Egyptian coup d’état, the new Egyptian Army restored its military cooperation with the Russian Army. The Egyptian Army imported many Russian made weapons since then, like the Mig-29 fighters jets, and Ka-52 attack helicopters. Lately, unconfirmed reports claimed that Egypt is currently negotiating to buy the advance Russian Su-35 fighter jet.
