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The activities of the third edition of the “Egypt International Exhibition for Defense and Military Industries” (EDEX 2023), which began on Monday, witnessed the display of a number of Egyptian weapons and ammunition manufactured and assembled locally for the first time, with an increase in local input into locally manufactured military industries.

The Arab Organization for Industrialization revealed the “Hafez Family” of aerial munitions, which have the ability to penetrate reinforced concrete up to 180 cm, and their weights reach two thousand pounds. They were produced in partnership with the Air Force, along with the “Qader-1” armored riot control vehicle, which provides a level of protection. “B4”, and equipment was added to it according to what the needs of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior required, with the ability to implement any equipment according to the desires of customers, according to the authority.

What was revealed at the exhibition today is “the product of 10 years of work to develop military industries in Egypt,” according to Major General Samir Farag, the former director of morale affairs, who told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi put the process of developing military industries on the agenda. His top priority since he came to power after factories faced problems of not updating their equipment for decades.

The new weapons that were revealed are useful in improving Egypt’s ranking on indicators related to the countries’ military capabilities, according to Major General Muhammad Al-Ghobari, former director of the National Defense College, who told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Egyptian military industries have become a partner in pure production with the third version of “ EDEX,” which heralds the near ability to “manufacture Egyptian missiles” after it produced the “Raad 200 missile launcher.”

The “Military Factory 200” produced the “Raad 200” rocket launcher, equipped with a 385-horsepower engine and carrying a 122 mm rocket launcher, and controlled internally electronically from the cab. It is an Egyptian industry in partnership with three companies affiliated with “Military Production.”

The exhibition witnessed the inauguration of the Egyptian frigate “The Mighty Meco A200”, which was manufactured by Egyptian hands at the Alexandria Shipyard Company with German technology. The frigate was built in cooperation with the German shipbuilding company “TKMS” as part of a deal for Egypt to obtain 4 frigates of the same type, one of which was manufactured locally.

The frigate can carry two helicopters on board for anti-submarine missions, and also has the ability to carry small drones for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, as well as the ability to carry two light boats for special forces missions, according to official data announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense earlier.

The modernization operations at the Alexandria Arsenal over the past years helped in the success of the entire manufacturing process locally, according to the former director of morale affairs, who believes that the success of manufacturing locally, in addition to providing experience for its workers, will open the door to the possibility of continuing cooperation to build similar frigates in Egypt and export them in partnership with the German company.

The opinion is supported by the former director of the National Defense College, who stresses “the importance of accumulating various weapons industry experiences locally, which gives the country the ability to gradually transform to be one of the influential countries in military industries, benefiting from the diversification of armament sources, which provides different options for decision makers.”

Among the new Egyptian military equipment that was unveiled is the multi-tasking mobile automated command and control center to control the forces’ combat actions and secure the airspace, borders and important installations, designed and manufactured 100 percent Egyptian.

Major General Al-Ghubari views this vehicle as one of the most important things revealed at the exhibition because it facilitates field leadership from the site of the event, giving military commanders the opportunity to be present on the front without restrictions and in a way that facilitates more accurate decision-making, in addition to its advanced technology.

Also among the new Egyptian weapons that were unveiled at the exhibition was the system for countering drones and electronic obstruction, which included the design and manufacture of systems for detecting and countering drones up to the tactical level, along with the production of a device for countering drones to secure naval vessels, as well as radio reconnaissance and obstruction devices in the frequency range. different.

Major General Farag considers this device an “important step” in light of the increasing use of drones in military battles, stressing that entering this precise specialty represents a major addition to the Egyptian military industries.

The former Director of Morale Affairs agrees with the opinion of Major General Muhammad Al-Ghobari regarding the importance of marketing for military industries during the exhibition days and beyond to achieve external demand for Egyptian industries, thus creating a financial return directed to the continuous development and modernization operations required by military equipment so that the chances of its spread are greater.