BELARUSIAN DEFENSE CONTRACTOR HAS NEARLY COMPLETED BTR-50 MODERNIZATION CONTRACT FOR EGYPTIAN ARMY
NEWTOWN, Conn. - Belarusian Unitary Enterprise Minotor-Service announced this month that it has nearly completed a $100 million contract to modernize 500 vehicles from Egypt's aging stocks of BTR-50 armored personnel carriers.
According to IHS Jane's, Minotor's director-general, Valery Hrabenshchykow, reported to private Belarusian news agency BelaPAN that only 20 BTR-50 vehicles from the contract of 500 still require modernization.
With Egypt still roiling from the economic and security challenges of the post-Mubarak era and facing an emboldened insurgency on the Sinai peninsula, the modernization and operational efficacy of the Egyptian Army's armored vehicle inventories has taken on greater precedence.
The primary BTR-50 upgrade package offered by Minotor-Service is designated the BTR-50PKM. The upgrade package replaces the vehicle's stock engine configuration, transmission and brake systems, enhances the model's fuel efficiency and integrates an array of enhancements to ease vehicle maintenance and operational navigation.
According to Minotor, the BTR-50PKM features an improved top-speed of 60mph on a paved road, 45mph on earthen roads and a power-to-weight ratio of 20.7hp/ton.
Source: IHS Jane's
Associated URL:
http://www.janes.com/article/41355/egyptian-btr-50-upgrade-close-to-completion
Author: T. Dolzall, Military Vehicles Analyst
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