WASHINGTON -- Egypt has been approved for the purchase of tank ammunition.

The U.S. State Department announced on September 17, 2018, that it had approved a potential sale of tens of thousands of rounds of tank ammunition to the Egyptian military. The sale, if concluded, carries an estimated cost of about $99 million.

According to a press release, Egypt requested to purchase 46,000 120mm target practice rounds as well as 10,000 A4 Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot with Tracer (APFSDS-T) rounds. The Egyptian government additionally requested 4,500 120mm Insensitive Munitions High Explosive with Tracer (IM HE-T) tank rounds, as well as spare parts and other support.

Egypt's purchase of the target practice rounds will allow the military to carry out training "using munitions that cost a fraction of tactical rounds," according to the U.S. State Department. Under a partnership with the U.S., Egypt has been locally producing this ammunition "for approximately 15 years." The APFSDS-T rounds will replace older ammunition.

Furthermore, "Egypt will use the 120MM IM HE-T cartridges to maintain a strategic munitions inventory for its M1A1 tank fleet and in support of operations against militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the Sinai," the State Department noted. The Egyptian military is currently undertaking a counterinsurgency campaign against 'Wilayat Sinai', a terrorist group based in the Sinai peninsula that pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Source: DSCA
Associated URL: http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/egypt-120mm-tank-rounds