United States delivered M1A1 Abrams main battle tank turrets to Egypt

The United States delivered five M1A1 Abrams Tank turrets to Cairo East Air Base on 31 July as part of ongoing American security support to Egypt. Built in Ohio, the turrets were flown in directly from the United States and immediately delivered to the Egyptian Tank Plant for US-Egyptian M1A1 tank co-production.

U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official in Cairo, Major General Charles Hooper noted, “The co-production of M1A1 tanks in Egypt provides the people and the Armed Forces of Egypt with a strong economic and security capability. The delivery of the turrets will allow over 2,000 Egyptian citizens to work at the production plant, as well as provide the Armed Forces with additional means to fight extremism in the region.”

The United States’ $1.3 billion commitment this year supports Egypt’s security and military efforts to confront terrorism on several fronts. The delivery of these tank turrets and resumption of co-production manufacturing of M1A1 Abrams tanks is the most recent step taken by the U.S. government in support of a security partnership with Egypt that has continued for over 30 years.

The United States will deliver an additional 14 M1A1 turrets to Egypt this August with additional scheduled turret deliveries as production continues. In addition, the United States continues to provide follow-on support, maintenance, and training for Egyptian Land Forces.

Yacht Mahroussa headed the opening ceremony of the expanded Suez Canal

August 6, 2015 in Egypt, the opening ceremony of the expanded Suez Canal. The second waterway channel length of 72 km was built in record time – in fact, for the year, the work has cost $ 8.2 billion. The first ship passed the second Suez Canal waterway August 6, 2015, was the Egyptian government yacht Mahroussa – ship in November 1869 passed the first built the Suez Canal at the opening ceremony. Mahroussa is the oldest existing self-propelled ship Navy in the world, operated since 1865. On board August 6, 2015 was the president of Egypt, Abel Fattah al-Sisi.Following the yacht at the ceremony followed the newest warship of the Egyptian fleet – had just come from the French frigate FFG 1001 Tahya Misr (under construction – the French Normandie 651 D ) type FREMM. The air in the parade passed nine newest Air Force combat aircraft of Egypt – three fighter Dassault Rafale DM and six fighter Lockheed Martin F-16C / D Block.

Yacht Mahroussa (“Stored blessing of God”) was built in the years 1863-1865 for the ruler of Egypt, Ismail Pasha on British Samuda Brothers shipyard in London, designed by Oliver Lang on the model designed by the latest British royal yacht Victoria and Albert II , and was originally a paddleboat . In August 1865 the yacht was handed over to the Egyptian in London crew. November 17, 1869 the yacht Mahroussa became the first ship passed the complete construction of the Suez Canal at the opening ceremony. On board this historic voyage were proclaimed in 1867 the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan, Ismail Pasha, the French Empress Eugenie, the Emperor of Austria and Hungary Franz Joseph II, as well as a number of other European royals and princes. Ironically, the yacht Mahroussa three used to remove abroad deposed rulers of Egypt – in 1879 of Ismail Pasha, in 1914 – the Khedive Abbas Hilmi II, and in 1952 – King Farouk I and his son Ahmed Fouad II (in favor of whom initially denied Farouk). After the Egyptian revolution in 1952 the yacht was renamed El Horreya (“Freedom”), and was used as early as the presidential yacht, based on Alexandria, and in September 2000, on the orders of President Hosni Mubarak, the ship was returned to the former name Mahroussa. In June 1975 El Horreya with President Anwar Sadat became the first on board the ship passed through the Suez Canal at the ceremony reopening of the channel after a period of closure in 1967 because of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Israeli occupation of the eastern shore of the channel. In 1976, the boat took part in the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the United States for the first time in its history crossed the Atlantic and passing total in this voyage of 12,700 miles. During the presidency of Mubarak’s yacht was used primarily as a training ship of the Naval Academy, although the Mubarak out her views in an average of three times a year. During the period of its operation of the yacht was repeatedly rebuilt and reconstructed. In 1872, the plant builder in London yacht was lengthened by 40 feet (10.2 m). In 1894 the yacht was the replacement of boilers. In 1905-1906, the yacht passed an extensive overhaul and modernization at the Scottish shipyard Pointhouse Shipyard Company A & J Inglis in Glasgow, where it was including in the reworked screw, replacing steam engines steam turbines operating at three shafts, and with the installation of new boilers. Vessel length was increased further to 16.5 feet (5 meters). In 1919, during a regular upgrades in the UK vessel length has been increased by another 27 feet (8.2 m), and the boilers were converted from coal to liquid fuel your heating. The last significant renovation yacht (with updating add-ons, and the interior) was made ​​in 1949 in La Spezia in Italy, in 1950 in Alexandria on the yacht was made ​​a regular replacement of steam generators.Last renovated vessel in Egypt at the naval shipyard in Alexandria took place in 1987. Who has a total displacement of 3762 tons, the tonnage of 4561 grt, a length of 145.72 m, width 13 m, draft of 5.3 m. As a main power plant saved three Parson steam turbines manufactured by Warroch Street Engine Works in Glasgow in 1905, with total capacity of 6500 hp Full speed is not more than 12-13 knots. Egyptian President Abel Fattah al-Sisi on board the yacht Mahroussa at the opening of the Suez Canal extended. 08.06.2015 (c) the press service of the President of Egypt / Reuters Driving the new route of the Suez Canal (red) (c) The Economist