Egypt deploys Russian air defence system ahead of Gaza Red Sea summit attended by Trump

Egypt's armed forces have deployed a Russian-made Buk-M2E medium-range air defence system around the Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh as part of heightened security preparations for an upcoming international peace summit co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and US President Donald Trump, sources told The New Arab's Arabic edition.

Units from Egypt's Air Defence Forces transported the systems overland under tight security to elevated positions around the resort city, sources said.

The move was described as a "precautionary measure to protect the summit from any potential aerial threats, including drones and cruise missiles", sources added.

The Buk-M2E is one of Russia's most advanced medium-range air defence systems, which Egypt has operated for several years. It comprises tracked launchers and guidance vehicles (TELARs), command units, and radar systems capable of tracking and engaging multiple aerial targets simultaneously.

The Egyptian version of the system has an engagement range of up to 45 kilometres (28 miles) and a maximum interception altitude of about 25 kilometres (15.5 miles). It is designed to counter drones, cruise missiles, fighter jets, and helicopters, and is resistant to electronic jamming in modern combat environments.

The system's high mobility allows it to transition from movement to firing mode within minutes, with each launcher capable of engaging a separate target, making it effective for protecting high-profile events and sensitive sites from surprise or unconventional aerial attacks.

The deployment is part of a broader security plan overseen by Egypt's intelligence services to safeguard the summit's airspace, and a signal of the country's defence readiness amid heightened regional military activity in the Red Sea.

The measures are part of a wider effort to secure Egyptian airspace over Sinai and the Red Sea coast, particularly given the expected presence of numerous international leaders and officials.

The summit will focus on the Gaza war, efforts to uphold the ceasefire, and the next stages of its implementation.

Images circulated online in recent hours showed a military convoy of heavy trucks and tracked vehicles moving through Sharm el-Sheikh streets under camouflage covers, as security preparations intensified ahead of the high-profile gathering.