In a current improvement that would deliver French fighter jets again into the highlight after the Rafale’s status suffered a decline following the India-Pakistan clashes, the French day by day La Tribune revealed that Egypt had submitted an official request to Dassault Aviation to buy 24 extra Rafale fighter jets.
The potential deal could be the third of its variety between Cairo and the French firm, bringing the full variety of Rafale fighter jets in service in Egypt to 78.
The order would cowl 24 plane, though Dassault Aviation has declined to touch upon the knowledge at this stage.
After changing into the primary overseas buyer to buy Rafales in 2015, with an order for twenty-four plane, Egypt subsequently positioned a brand new order for 30 Rafales in 2021. The latter buy, value almost 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion), was unfold over 10 years by way of a mortgage 85% assured by France.
France-Egypt ‘strategic partnership’ strengthened
Why pursue such a deal whereas Egypt is going through monetary difficulties?
The reply lies in Cairo’s want to switch its growing older F-16 fleet, with some 200 plane nonetheless in service, together with fashions courting again to the Nineteen Eighties.
The potential sale additionally comes amid a broader rapprochement between France and Egypt, highlighted by French President Emmanuel Macron’s go to to Egypt in April 2025.
The settlement into account faces monetary and technical obstacles. The 2 earlier contracts had been primarily based on 10-year loans assured by the French authorities, whereas an extra possibility, included within the 2015 contract for the acquisition of 12 extra fighter jets, was canceled in 2017 following reservations expressed by France’s Ministry of Financial system and Finance.
Technically, the 2 earlier deliveries concerned the F-3R model, whereas Egypt could possibly be focusing on the newer F-4 mannequin beneath this new settlement. This raises questions concerning the manufacturing capability of the Rafale meeting line on the plant in Merignac, which is already beneath appreciable stress from ongoing supply commitments to India, Indonesia and Serbia, to not point out the French Air Pressure’s fleet modernization program.
If this settlement is finalized, Egypt’s complete Rafale order will attain 78 plane, thereby consolidating its place because the main overseas purchaser of this French fighter plane.
