Egypt approved for $4.7 billion upgrade of its Abrams main battle tanks
The upgrade to M1A1SA includes better sighting, vision system, engine and transmission. (Photo: US Army)
The approval is for the upgrade of 555 of Egypt’s M1A1 Abrams tanks into M1A1SA configuration.
The US State Department has approved a request from Egypt to upgrade 555 of its General Dynamics Land Systems M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks into M1A1SA configuration under a deal which could be worth as much as US$4.7 billion.
Notification of the Foreign Military Sale approval was sent to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the former will still need to approve the sale.
The deal is for 555 sets each of Night Vision Technology Solutions AN/VAS- 5B Driver Vision Enhancer (DVE-A) kits and thermal imaging system gunner’s sights. The request also includes M250 smoke grenade launchers, AGT-1500 tank engines, X-1100 tank transmissions, spare parts, support equipment and government-furnished equipment.
Shephard Defence Insight noted that the Egyptian Army operates a vast number of MBTs, including 1,130 M1A1s assembled in fits and starts between 1984 and 2019, as well as substantial numbers of legacy Soviet T-54, T-55 and T-62s and US M60s.
The older MBTs in Egypt’s inventory had been projected to reach the end of their useful service life in the 2020s but this upgrade extends the life of the first M1A1s which rolled out of the factory four decades ago and is a substantial boost in capability.
At a time of high demand for MBTs the life extension allows Egypt to look forward to the next generation of MBTs which may be available beyond 2030.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Textron unveils a smaller, low-cost variant of the Ripsaw family of UGVs]()
Textron unveils a smaller, low-cost variant of the Ripsaw family of UGVs
Ripsaw M1 has been designed to support the US Marine Corps’ littoral missions by carrying diverse types of payloads and performing multiple missions. Shephard spoke with Textron to find out more.
-
![Battle management C2 systems are driving the next phase of integrated air defence]()
Battle management C2 systems are driving the next phase of integrated air defence
Battlefield and wider air defence C2 systems integrating a range of agnostic sensors have risen in prominence, from Turkey’s Aselsan developing Steel Dome to Northrop Grumman providing its own system to Poland and the US Army.
-
![Ireland targets improved anti-drone capability before mid-year ahead of EU presidency]()
Ireland targets improved anti-drone capability before mid-year ahead of EU presidency
With Ireland's EU presidency set to commence from July this year, the ramped-up efforts to procure a counter-uncrewed aerial system and radar capability under its Military Radar Programme are on track to meet targeted roll-out dates.
