Egypt has revealed its first locally-made infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) named Sena 200 at the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) 2023, which took place from December 4 to 7 in Cairo. The Sena 200 is a tracked IFV derived from the Soviet-origin BMP-1, but with significant improvements in protection, mobility, and firepower.
The Sena 200 was first unveiled in EDEX 2021, but has since undergone several modifications, such as replacing the original 360 hp engine with a more powerful 385 hp engine, and using locally-produced steel for the hull. The vehicle has a combat weight of 14 tonnes, and can reach a maximum speed of 65 km/h on roads and 45 km/h off-road. It can carry up to six soldiers in addition to the driver and the commander.
The Sena 200 offers a high level of ballistic protection, classified as Level 4 according to STANAG 4579 standards, which means it can withstand 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds from any angle. It also has a mine protection capability of Level 3, with a ground clearance of 360 mm and energy-absorbing seats. The vehicle can be fitted with additional nets to provide extra protection against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), which have an 85% probability of protection.
The Sena 200 can be equipped with different weapon systems, depending on the mission requirements. The vehicle displayed at EDEX 2023 featured the Eagle 1 remote controlled weapon station (RCWS) from Arab International Optronics (AIO), which can mount various weapons, including 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, 12.7 mm, and 14.5 mm calibers. Another variant of the Sena 200 was shown as a combat support vehicle with a one-man turret armed with a 30 mm cannon.
The Sena 200 is also proposed in various configurations, such as ambulance, missile launcher, mortar carrier, signal vehicle, command and control vehicle, ammunition carrier, logistic transporter, and electronic warfare vehicle. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Military Products, which designed and developed the Sena 200, a contract has been signed with the Egyptian Ministry of Defense for the production of an undisclosed number of vehicles, with the delivery of the first batch expected in January 2024.
The Sena 200 is a noteworthy addition to the Egyptian mechanized forces, which currently operate 390 YPR-765 and 300 BMP-1 IFVs. The Sena 200 is claimed to offer superior performance and versatility, as well as being a testament to the Egyptian military industry’s capabilities and ambitions.
Egypt is counting on defence exhibitions to sell it’s home-made products. Egyptian defence companies are relying on defence exhibitions and show to corral potential customers into taking an interest in their products. The Egyptian government’s plan is to export Egyptian weapons to African and Middle Eastern countries in order to further extend Egyptian influence in the continent
