Egypt to Join in Producing U.S. Tank
U.S. Defense Secretary Frank C. Carlucci signed an agreement with Egypt on Tuesday for the Arab nation to help produce and acquire M-1A1 tanks, the most sophisticated in the U.S. arsenal.
After three years of negotiation, Egypt will become the first country apart from the United States to build a modified version of the tank, also known as the Abrams tank.
Before signing the agreement, Carlucci met President Hosni Mubarak for an hour of “very friendly” talks, the defense secretary said.
The meeting centered on Middle East developments and bilateral military relations, which are “progressing very well,” Carlucci said. Since 1984, the United States has given Egypt $1.3 billion a year in military aid.
After talking to Mubarak, Carlucci signed a memorandum of understanding with Defense Minister Abdel-Halim abu Ghazala to co-produce up to 555 of the 57-ton tanks armed with 120-millimeter guns.
Under the agreement, 40% of the tank will be made in Egypt and the rest, manufactured in the United States, will be assembled at an Egyptian plant.
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