France delivers first batch of fighter jets to Egypt

(Baonghean) - Egypt on July 20 received three Rafale fighter jets from France. These are the first products in a deal to buy 24 fighter jets worth 5.2 billion euros (5.6 billion USD) earlier this year.

Egyptian authorities took over the transfer at an air base in southern France, and specially trained pilots will fly the aircraft to Cairo today, July 21.

French Rafale fighter jet. Photo: AFP

Cairo is trying to boost its military presence in the face of unstable Libya to the west and the threat from Islamic State-linked militants in the Sinai Peninsula to the east.

For Egypt, the deal is also a sign of support for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who overthrew his Islamist predecessor in 2013 and wants to break the US monopoly on arms sales to Egypt.

This is also a much-needed boon for cash-strapped France, which hopes that by showcasing its military technology, it will secure more orders for high-end fighter jets, boosting sales that have been stagnant for years.

The overall deal also includes contracts for missiles and FREMM multi-mission frigates. However, the deal has raised concerns from advocacy groups concerned about Cairo's human rights record.

The head of Dassault Aviation, which manufactures fighter jets, expressed gratitude to the French military, without whose help “this success would not have been possible”.

In another development, India in April ordered 36 Rafale jets in a multi-billion euro deal that took years to complete.

Thu Giang

(According to AFP)