Russia to supply Antey-2500 missile system to Egypt by end of 2016

Russia will supply the Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile system to Egypt by the end of 2016, a source familiar with Russia's military and technical cooperation with other countries told TASS on Friday. The contract is worth more than $1 billion, the source said.
"In accordance with the contract, Egypt will receive the Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile system with three divisions, including a command post. The contract is worth more than $1 billion. The training of Egyptian serviceman in operating the system is included in the contract, it will start this year in one of the centers of the Russian Ground Forces," the source noted.
"The contract will be fulfilled in 2016," he added.
The source added that the first Antey-2500 division is ready for delivery while the delivery of support equipment started last year.
Russia’s official arms exporter Rosoboronexport did not comment on the situation. "The company will not comment on this information," Rosoboronexport’s representative Vyacheslav Davidenko told TASS.
The Antey-2500 system is a modernization of S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems. The system is designed to attack aircraft, aeroballistic and cruise missiles, and other air targets at a distance of 250 kilometers and height of up to 25 kilometers. The system was first purchased by Venezuela. Russian arms producer Almaz-Antey announced delivery of the system to Egypt last year, but this information was not confirmed. Reports say that Russia offered to supply Antey-2500 to Iran instead of S-300, the delivery of which failed due to UN sanctions.
Russia-Egypt military cooperation
Russia and Egypt have signed a protocol on military cooperation on March 4 after the first session of the joint commission on military and technical cooperation.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and his Egyptian counterpart Sedki Sobhi presided at the session.
"The sides discussed the results of the military and technical cooperation in 2014 and outlined priority prospects of cooperation in this sphere for 2015," the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service said.
An agreement on joint commission on military and technical cooperation was signed as well along with the protocol for its first session.