In an unprecedented development, the Egyptian Army has taken delivery of the final 101 MRAPs from the United States, which is part of a larger 930 delivery. Consequently, Egypt has requested for a further 1,000 more MRAPs.
The foreign military sales of the 930 MRAP vehicles to Egypt falls under a U.S. Excess Defense Articles Grant Program. According to a United States Army report published on 19 July 2019, under the grant program, the MRAP vehicles are transferred at no cost to the Egyptian government, although, Egypt is responsible for arranging shipment of the MRAPs from Sierra Army Depot in California to Egypt.
In military parlance, Excess Defence articles or EDA are surplus materiel, weapons or munition that have been stricken out of the U.S Army’s inventory and allows approved countries to request the materiel through the foreign military sales process.
In early May, the delivered Egyptian Army’s MRAPs were loaded onto trains to be taken to a military workshop in Cairo for refurbishment. The total value for the 2.000 MRAPs is estimated to be $120 million.
According to Security Assistance Command Country Program Manager Shawn Arrance, these vehicles will be used by Egypt to fight against terrorism and are part of a broad range of military cooperation initiatives between the two countries.
The sale also supports U.S. national interest and continues to enhance Egyptian army capabilities by increasing the readiness posture of the country to defend its national sovereignty and regional stability, he said.
The transfered MRAPs includes M1232 RG33L (baseline RG33), M1233 RG33L (Heavy Armoured Ground Ambulance – HAGA), M1237 RG33 Plus (with additional armour), M1220 Caiman, and M1230 Caiman Plus vehicles, as well as MRAP Recovery Vehicles. Training is included in the package and is ongoing and scheduled in accordance with the Egyptian land forces needs and requests, the US Army said.
