MOSCOW // The head of Russia’s state-controlled industrial holding company says Moscow has signed a deal to provide Egypt with air-defence missile systems.
The statement by Russian Technologies chief Sergei Chemezov yesterday followed last week’s trip to Egypt by officials from Russia’s foreign and defence ministries.
Mr Chemezov, whose comments were carried by state Ria Novosti news agency, would not elaborate on the missile deal.
He said that Egypt also expressed interest in other Russian weapons, including combat planes and helicopters, but had funding problems. He said Egypt could ask Russia for a loan to finance the weapons deals.
The deal comes amid strained relations between Cairo and Washington over its criticism of the military’s removal of Mohammed Morsi as president on July 3.
The Soviet Union armed Egypt for decades at the height of the Cold War and in Egypt’s wars with Israel.
* Associated Press
