Russia will deliver a regiment of Antey-2500 air defense systems to Egypt by the end of 2016. The contract is valued at more than $1 billion, TASS reports with reference to a source close to the Russian system of military-technical cooperation.

“Under the contract, a regiment (three divisions) of Antey-2500 air defense systems, including a command post, will be delivered to Egypt. The value of this contract is more than $1 billion. This contract includes personnel training, which will be started this year in one of Army training centers,” the source said. “The contract will be implemented in 2016,” he added.

The source added that the first division of Antey-2500 systems is ready for delivery and deliveries of additional equipment to Egypt were started last year.

Rosoboronexport declined to comment on the matter. “The company declined to comment on the situation,” official representative of Rosoboronexport Vyacheslav Davidenko told TASS.

Antey-2500 system is derived from S-300 (upgraded version of the latter one). It is designed for destroying aircraft, missiles, including ballistic and cruise missiles, and other air targets at a distance of 250 km or less and height of up to 25 km. Venezuela was the Antey-2500 launch customer. Last year Almaz-Antey Concern announced deliveries of this system to Egypt, however, the information was not confirmed. Moreover, Russia offered Antey-2500 to Iran to replace S-300 systems, which could not be delivered to the country due to sanctions imposed by UN.