Heavily armoured MRAP vehicles provided by the US arrived in the Egyptian port of Alexandria today, the first batch of a total of 762 vehicles that are being transfered to bolster Egypt's counter-terrorism efforts.
The first shipment of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles from the US has arrived in the port of Alexandria for delivery to the Egyptian Army, a US Embassy statement here said.
The heavily armoured MRAP vehicles are specifically designed to protect soldiers from blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines and from other types of attacks.
The delivery marks the first batch of a total of 762 MRAP vehicles that the United States is transferring to Egypt, the statement said.
This new capability will be used to combat terrorism and promote stability in the region.
Originally designed to support United States military operations in Afghanistan, MRAPs provide enhanced levels of protection to soldiers and are proven to save lives, the statement said.
"The delivery of these MRAPs to Egypt provides a crucial capability needed during these times of regional instability and is part of the continuing strong relationship between the US and Egypt," US Embassy Senior Defense Official Major General Charles Hooper said.
This delivery of MRAPs is part of the US Department of Defense's Excess Defense Articles grant programme, in which the vehicles are transferred at no-cost to Egypt.
This delivery is the most recent step taken by the US government in support of Egypt's fight against terrorism and is part of a broad range of military cooperation initiatives between the two countries.
