Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — After a year of negotiations, Egypt and Russia have reached an agreement for a major weapons deal.

Officials said Egypt has agreed to procure $3.5 billion worth of combat platforms and other weapons from Russia.

The officials said the deal would include air defense systems, combat aircraft and armored platforms.

“Russia and Egypt have initialed arms contracts worth $3.5 billion,” Alexander Fomin, director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said.

Officials said the Kremlin has agreed to supply air defense systems, artillery and light arms in the first stage of the accord. They said the two countries would determine such issues as price as well as repayment and delivery schedules over the next few months.

This marked the first official confirmation of a long-awaited Egyptian-Russian arms deal. Officials said efforts to conclude a $3.2 billion contract in early 2014 failed amid Egypt’s inability to guarantee financing. Cairo was expected to finance the deal with aid from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt had not reported any weapons agreement with Russia. But over the last six months, Egypt and Russia held several summits that focused on defense and military cooperation.

  air defense systems, armored platforms, combat aircraft, Egypt buying $3.5 billion worth of combat platforms from Russia, Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation