Special to WorldTribune.com

MOSCOW — Egypt and Russia are said to have signed a $3 billion defense deal that would renew Russian fighter-jet deliveries to the Arab power.

Russian sources said Egypt has initialed an agreement to procure MiG-29 fighter-jets and Mi-35 attack helicopters.

The sources said Russia would also deliver an advanced coastal defense system similar to that ordered by Syria.

Earlier, the Egyptian daily Al Masri Al Yom said the deal amounted to $2 billion and would be financed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

“Two sources in the Russian defense industry said Egypt has already initialed or signed contracts that total more than $3 billion, including procurement of the MiG-29M/M2 fighter-jets, several models of air defense systems, Mi-35 helicopters, anti-coastal systems and light weapons,” the Russian business daily Vedemosti said.

The report on Feb. 14 came in wake of the visit by Egyptian Defense Minister Abdul Fatah Sisi to Moscow. Sisi said his trip marked the renewal of defense and military cooperation between Cairo and Moscow amid the suspension of delivery of major U.S. combat platforms.

This marked the second report of an Egyptian-Russian defense accord in
February 2014.

The sources said Russia offered Egypt the same combat platforms promoted
in Saudi Arabia. They said Egypt could eventually help the Gulf Cooperation
Council deploy similar equipment.

“The Egyptian procurement would bolster national defense to protect
against any external attack,” Ruslan Aliyev, an analyst at the Moscow-based
Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, said.

  Abdul Fatah Sisi, attack helicopters, Egypt signs $3 billion deal for Russian fighter jets, Mi-35 attack helicopters, MiG-29 fighters