Egypt, Russia Negotiating Air Defense Missile Systems Sale

Russian State Technologies Corporation (ROSTEC) says it is holding pre-contract delivery negotiations for the supply of the Antey 2500 and Buk missile systems ordered by Egypt in 2014 to upgrade the capabilities of its Air Defense Force (ADF).

Antey-2500 air defense system components. 

According to a military source quoted by Interfax in March this year, the missile order is part of the multi-billion Russian-Egyptian arms deal of 2014 and involves the supply of Buk air-to-air missiles, the Antey 2500 (S-300VM) anti-ballistic missile system, command posts, spares and accessories at a cost of US$1 billion. Egypt will also receive auxiliary technological equipment,launchers and other essential equipment to support the system.

According to the initial agreement, deliveries are expected to start later this year and be complete by late 2016.

"Today, we are considering the possibility of delivering to Egypt the anti-ballistic missile system Antey-2500 and the Buk 2 surface-to-air missiles. Negotiations are continuing," ROSTEC CEO Sergey Chemezov told Russian news agency ITAR-TASS at the end of the recent Dubai Airshow.

He said the Egyptian air defense systems sale will contribute substantially to the $12.5 billion in arms exports that Russia expects to earn by end of the year.

"Rosoboronexport foreign arms sales should reach $12.5 billion by the end of this year. We hope it (arms export revenue) will be a little more, but we will definitely fulfill the plan," Chemezov said.

The Antey 2500 system is an upgraded version of the S-300 missile aerial defense system. It can destroy aircraft, ballistic and cruise missiles flying at a range of up to 250 km and a height of up to 25 km.

The 9K37 Buk missile system is designed to hit aircraft, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying at distances of up to 30 miles and altitudes of up to 15 miles. Egypt is the third buyer of the Russian air defense system after Venezuela and Iran.

9K37 Buk missile system. 

Russia is aggressively marketing upgraded weapons and aerial defense systems in the Middle East. ROSTEC exhibited and demonstrated the new Antey 2500 and upgraded Buk-2 missile system to Middle Eastern and African customers in Abu Dhabi early in 2014.