Egypt has displayed a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle armed with a Russian-made Konkurs anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system at the Egypt Defence Exhibition (EDEX 2023), which is held from December 4 to 6 in Cairo. The vehicle was developed by the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI).
The combination of the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Single Cab pick-up, and the Konkurs ATGM named DMS-K, tailored for special forces, can carry up to eight missiles. It is intended for engaging main battle tanks and light armoured vehicles on the front lines. It is a highly effective anti-tank system that takes advantage of the rapid mobility and maneuverability of the Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle, as well as its ability to move on difficult terrains.
The DMS-K system has two missiles ready for use and permits two consecutive missile launches before reloading, with full control possible from inside the vehicle.
The Konkurs-M ATGM system is designed to engage modern tanks fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA), light armoured vehicles, fortifications and engineer structures at ranges of 75 to 4,000 meters, day or night.
The ATGM system consists of combat assets, maintenance facilities and training aids.
Owing to its launcher design, the system can be installed on a variety of wheeled and tracked platforms. The Konkurs ATGM is fitted with a tandem high explosive anti tank (HEAT) warhead, and is guided by both semi-automatic and wire-guided guidance system. It can effectively neutralize 750-800 mm armour even behind ERA.
The Konkurs-equipped Land Cruiser will best serve mechanized troops in support of an armoured formation against enemy troops with heavy armoured presence.
Egypt is one of the largest operators of the Konkurs ATGM system in the region, having acquired more than 10,000 missiles from Russia since the 1980s. The country also produces its own version of the missile, called the Sakr. The North African country is hoping to sell this weapon system, as well as others it exhibited to African and international customers. Egypt heavily rely on defence exhibitions like EDEX to market its indegenous defence products.
Egypt has been modernizing its armed forces with various weapons and equipment from different sources, including Russia, France, Germany, China and the United States. The country is also developing its own defence industry, with several projects in the fields of armoured vehicles, missiles, drones and electronics.
EDEX 2023 is the third edition of the biennial defence exhibition, which showcases the latest products and technologies from local and international defence companies. The event also features live demonstrations, seminars and conferences on various topics related to defence and security. EDEX 2023 is expected to attract more than 400 exhibitors and 30,000 visitors from over 50 countries.
Meanwhile, Egypt has also revealed its first locally-made infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) named Sena 200 at the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) 2023. The Sena 200 is a tracked IFV derived from the Soviet-origin BMP-1, but with significant improvements in protection, mobility, and firepower.