Abrams in Egypt ?

[eaw46]

I was watching a news program on TV and I am sure I saw an Abrams A1 Tank with the Egyption Army? I know they have the M60 but I was not aware any other country had the Abrams. Any comments? Eddy

 

[eaw46]

Answerd my own question. Eddy American M1A1
(click to view full)

In the modern era, Egypt was a Soviet client for a long time, and its arsenals still contain their share of Soviet weaponry. Military assistance relations took a sharp turn for the worse in the early 1970s, and the country has used the US military aid program that accompanied the 1979 Camp David Accords to replace much of that equipment with American items. The country began a co-production program for M1 Abrams tanks in 1988, which involves kit assembly in Egypt but outsources sensitive functions like adding the M1’s special armor. To date, this program has produced 880 tanks, a total that would rise to 1,005 M1 tanks with this order.
On Aug 24/07, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced [PDF format] Egypt’s request for 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits…
Each kit includes a Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer, Firepower Enhancement Package (substitution of the 120mm smoothbore gun for the original 105mm gun) and armor upgrades. Additional Major Defense Equipment (MDE) include 125 M256 Armament Systems (Rheinmetall 120mm guns), 125 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 250 M204 7.62mm machine guns, and non-MDE for spare and repair parts, special tool and test equipment, personnel training and equipment, publications, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $889 million [as corrected on Sept 18/07], and the prime contractor will be General Dynamics of Sterling Heights, MI.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of up to 40 U.S. contractor representatives for up to 2 years in Egypt. The 6 U.S. Government representatives already in country who currently manage the M1A1 Abrams and M88A2 HERCULES tank recovery vehicle co-production programs will also manage this program for production and fielding.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

Selling the outdated and high maintenance stuff to our "friends" (note i use friends loosely). Check this thread.