The Egyptian Ministry of Defence concluded an agreement with Russia’s Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) corporation and arms export agency Rosoboronexport to license-build 500 T-90MS main battle tanks. Egypt Army intends to take out of service all the old T-55/54 and T-62 main battle tanks, as well as all the relatively old Hefton tanks, and replace them with T-90 tanks. The Russian defense industry, Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) corporation will build a facility to assemble T-90MS tanks under license in Egypt, following agreements signed with Moscow. Complete localization of T-90MS tanks in Egypt is not anticipated, as a large number of parts of T-90MS tanks will be imported from Russia.
The Egyptian Army has numerous tank troops. Of more or less modern combat vehicles, Cairo has 34 T-80U tanks and 1,100 M1A1 Abrams. 840 T-54/55 units and 500 T-62 units, only 200 are in service, the remaining are in storage. There are still 300 old American M60A1 and 850 M60A3. The Egyptian Army is preparing to operate only two types of tanks in its future armored units: the American Abrahams and the Russian T-90s. The Egyptian Army will equip its armored divisions with T-90 tanks, while Abrahams M-1 models, will pass to the armored divisions subordinate to the mechanized divisions in the Egyptian Army.
T-90MS also known as T-90SM, it is an updated export version of the T-90 main battle tank. It is equipped with a 1,130 hp engine, a PNM Sosna-U gunner view, a UDP T05BV-1 RWS with a 7.62 mm machine gun, GLONASS, inertial navigation systems, new Relikt explosive reactive armour (ERA) that covers more of the tank, and a steering wheel. A new removable turret bustle is included, which provides storage for eight additional rounds. The T-90MS is ready for serial production. 4 video cameras provide a 360° view of the environment, while the tank is more connected to command. The T-90MS has an upgraded thermal imager that can detect tanks over 3300 meters away.
The T-90MS improved armor is slightly less resistant to the affects of a nuclear attack then previous T-90S model. An auxiliary diesel engine is meant to be used during stops allowing for better fuel efficiency while producing less heat than the main engine, making the vehicle less noticeable in the infra-red spectrum. The T-90MS tank is intended for the export market and was unveiled at the Defexpo India exhibition in March 2012. The Indian Army is the world’s largest operator of T-90 tanks and would be interested in upgrading the existing fleet to the MS standard. Export customers could get a 1,130-hp V-92S2F diesel engine powering their T-90MS tanks.
