BREAKING : Egypt to order 30 additional Rafale from France

[Vergennes]

According to online media Disclose, France and Egypt signed a contract worth 3.95 billion euros at the end of April.

Egypt will order 30 additional Rafale fighter jets from France, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday, partially confirming information disclosed by the online investigative media Disclose. A big customer of the French armaments industry, Cairo was the first foreign country to buy Rafale, in 2015.

This contract for 24 aircraft from the aircraft manufacturer Dassault was accompanied by an option for 12 other Rafale, which is not had never been lifted. Dassault did not wish to comment on this information which would mark a new big commercial success for the French aircraft. "Very advanced discussions are indeed taking place with Egypt and announcements could be made very soon," for his part reacted a French government source.

According to Disclose, France and Egypt on April 26 signed a contract worth a total of 3.95 billion euros, including the sale of 30 Rafale fighter jets as well as two other contracts for the benefit of the missile MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense. According to the investigative media, which cites Egyptian government documents detailing the terms of the contract, Egypt has obtained a loan guaranteed by France up to 85% to finance these purchases.

An Egyptian delegation was to initial the agreement on Monday in Paris.

L'Egypte va commander 30 Rafale supplémentaires à la France

D'après le média en ligne Disclose, la France et l'Egypte ont conclu fin avril un contrat de 3,95 milliards d'euros.

www.bfmtv.com

 

[Philip the Arab]

France is in advanced talks to sell 30 Rafale fighter jets to Egypt, a government source said on Monday, in a 3.75 billion euro ($4.5 billion) deal which investigative website Disclose said could be sealed as soon as Tuesday.

President Emmanuel Macron said in December he would not make the sale of weapons to Egypt conditional on human rights because he did not want to weaken Cairo's ability to counter terrorism in the region, a comment that drew the ire of critics.

"Very advanced discussions have indeed taken place with Egypt and announcements could be made very soon," a French governmental source told Reuters in response to the Disclose report on Monday, while declining to give further details.

Citing confidential documents, Disclose said an agreement had been concluded at the end of April and that a deal could be sealed on Tuesday when an Egyptian delegation arrives in Paris.

It would be a further boost for the Dassault-made (AVMD.PA) warplane after finalising in January a 2.5 billion euro agreement for the sale of 18 Rafales to Greece.

The Egyptian accord also reportedly covers contracts for missile provider MBDA (AVMD.PA) and equipment provider Safran Electronics & Defense (SAF.PA) which are worth another 200 million euros.

France's finance, foreign and armed forces ministries were not immediately available for comment. Egyptian officials were also not immediately available for comment.

France was the main weapons supplier to Egypt between 2013-2017, including the sale of 24 warplanes with an option for 12 more. Those contracts dried up, including deals for more Rafale jets and warships that had been at an advanced stage.

Diplomats said that was as much to do with financing issues over fears about Cairo's long-term ability to repay state-backed guaranteed loans, however, rather than concerns Paris had with the human rights situation in Egypt.

Benedicte Jeannerod, Human Rights Watch Director for France, denounced the deal outright.

"By signing a mega-arms contract with (Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-)Sisi's government while the latter presides over the worst repression in decades in Egypt, the eradication of the human rights community in the country, and undertakes extremely serious violations under the pretext of the fight against terrorism, France is only encouraging this ruthless repression," Jeannerod told Reuters.

Disclose said financing for the deal would be up to 85% guaranteed by the French state with BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Societe Generale and CIC, which funded the original deal, signing up again. The banks were not immediately available for comment.

With both countries concerned by the political vacuum in Libya, instability across the region and the threat from jihadist groups in Egypt, they have cultivated closer economic and military ties during Sisi’s rise to power.

Rights organisations have accused Macron of turning a blind eye to what they say are increasing violations of freedoms by Sisi's government.

French officials dismiss this and say Paris is following a policy of not openly criticising countries over human rights so as to be more effective in private on a case by case basis.

France to sell Egypt 30 fighter jets in $4.5 bln deal -Egyptian defense ministry, report

Egypt has signed a contract with France to buy 30 Rafale fighter jets, its defence ministry said in a statement early on Tuesday, in a deal that investigative website Disclose said on Monday was worth 3.75 billion euro ($4.5 billion).

www.reuters.com

 

[Cypro]

France is in advanced talks to sell 30 Rafale fighter jets to Egypt, a government source said on Monday, in a 3.75 billion euro ($4.5 billion) deal which investigative website Disclose said could be sealed as soon as Tuesday.

President Emmanuel Macron said in December he would not make the sale of weapons to Egypt conditional on human rights because he did not want to weaken Cairo's ability to counter terrorism in the region, a comment that drew the ire of critics.

"Very advanced discussions have indeed taken place with Egypt and announcements could be made very soon," a French governmental source told Reuters in response to the Disclose report on Monday, while declining to give further details.

Citing confidential documents, Disclose said an agreement had been concluded at the end of April and that a deal could be sealed on Tuesday when an Egyptian delegation arrives in Paris.

It would be a further boost for the Dassault-made (AVMD.PA) warplane after finalising in January a 2.5 billion euro agreement for the sale of 18 Rafales to Greece.

The Egyptian accord also reportedly covers contracts for missile provider MBDA (AVMD.PA) and equipment provider Safran Electronics & Defense (SAF.PA) which are worth another 200 million euros.

France's finance, foreign and armed forces ministries were not immediately available for comment. Egyptian officials were also not immediately available for comment.

France was the main weapons supplier to Egypt between 2013-2017, including the sale of 24 warplanes with an option for 12 more. Those contracts dried up, including deals for more Rafale jets and warships that had been at an advanced stage.

Diplomats said that was as much to do with financing issues over fears about Cairo's long-term ability to repay state-backed guaranteed loans, however, rather than concerns Paris had with the human rights situation in Egypt.

Benedicte Jeannerod, Human Rights Watch Director for France, denounced the deal outright.

"By signing a mega-arms contract with (Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-)Sisi's government while the latter presides over the worst repression in decades in Egypt, the eradication of the human rights community in the country, and undertakes extremely serious violations under the pretext of the fight against terrorism, France is only encouraging this ruthless repression," Jeannerod told Reuters.

Disclose said financing for the deal would be up to 85% guaranteed by the French state with BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, Societe Generale and CIC, which funded the original deal, signing up again. The banks were not immediately available for comment.

With both countries concerned by the political vacuum in Libya, instability across the region and the threat from jihadist groups in Egypt, they have cultivated closer economic and military ties during Sisi’s rise to power.

Rights organisations have accused Macron of turning a blind eye to what they say are increasing violations of freedoms by Sisi's government.

French officials dismiss this and say Paris is following a policy of not openly criticising countries over human rights so as to be more effective in private on a case by case basis.

OMG.. Egypt's inventory is just a mess.. Logistical nightmare.. Invest in country instead of throwing money to Europeans. Eurofighters, f16s, Rafales, Migs and Sukhois, Mirages.. unbelievable..

Is it both Eurofighters and Rafales or they decided to drop Eurofighter and buy more Rafale?

IMO Rafale is better than Typhoon and even better than F35.

 

[Philip the Arab]

OMG.. Egypt's inventory is just a mess.. Logistical nightmare.. Invest in country instead of throwing money to Europeans. Eurofighters, f16s, Rafales, Migs and Sukhois, Mirages.. unbelievable..

Is it both Eurofighters and Rafales or they decided to drop Eurofighter and buy more Rafale?

Not really sure, but I think EFT will be cut maybe.

 

[Vergennes]

(Florence Parly,MoD) I welcome the sale of 30 Rafale to Egypt, a strategic partner. This export success is crucial for our sovereignty and the maintenance of 7,000 industrial jobs in France for 3 years. The Rafale once again demonstrates its technological and operational excellence.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1389495712413626370

 

[Vergennes]

Deliveries will start in 2024 and end in 2026. We don't know yet which Rafale standard Egypt selected. (F3R ? F4 ?)

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1389366627087618054

 

[Costin84]

Deliveries will start in 2024 and end in 2026. We don't know yet which Rafale standard Egypt selected. (F3R ? F4 ?)

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1389366627087618054

With deliveries starting in 2024 it should be the F4 variant. Congratulations to Egypt, they have a very potent AF and now enough Rafales to actually count.

 

[Vergennes]

With deliveries starting in 2024 it should be the F4 variant. Congratulations to Egypt, they have a very potent AF and now enough Rafales to actually count.

It is finally the F3R standard. 18 Rafale C (one seat) and 12 Rafale B (two seats). The weapon package should (naturally) include Mica,Meteor,Scalp and AASM.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1389534973363953666

 

[Vergennes]

With this new order France has now exported 144 Rafale !

Egypt : 54 Rafale
India : 36 Rafale
Qatar : 36 Rafale
Greece : 18 Rafale

Including the French order of 225 aircrafts it means Dassault would have produced 369 Rafale !

That doesn't include additionnal orders or possible future customers.

 

[Costin84]

Let's hope for a win in Croatia, future orders from India,Greece and the UAE.

 

[Ryder]

OMG.. Egypt's inventory is just a mess.. Logistical nightmare.. Invest in country instead of throwing money to Europeans. Eurofighters, f16s, Rafales, Migs and Sukhois, Mirages.. unbelievable..

Is it both Eurofighters and Rafales or they decided to drop Eurofighter and buy more Rafale?

IMO Rafale is better than Typhoon and even better than F35.

Egypt loves its diverse weapons but man what a nightmare.

If the Egyptian airforce built their airforce with just French planes they would still have a formidable airforce rather than being all over the place.

 

[Ryder]

With this new order France has now exported 144 Rafale !

Egypt : 54 Rafale
India : 36 Rafale
Qatar : 36 Rafale
Greece : 18 Rafale

Including the French order of 225 aircrafts it means Dassault would have produced 369 Rafale !

That doesn't include additionnal orders or possible future customers.

Is this eating away the Typhoons potential customers??

 

[Vergennes]

Let's hope for a win in Croatia, future orders from India,Greece and the UAE.

Given the UAE has ordered the F35 I think we can take out the UAE off the list. (Unless they would operate both)

There's a 75% to 100% probability Greece and India would order more Rafale. Prospects are also looking very good in Croatia and Indonesia. The probability for the Rafale to be ordered by Finland or Switzerland are very low as well as Ukraine or Iraq who showed interest in the Rafale.

 

[Vergennes]

OMG.. Egypt's inventory is just a mess.. Logistical nightmare.. Invest in country instead of throwing money to Europeans. Eurofighters, f16s, Rafales, Migs and Sukhois, Mirages.. unbelievable..

Is it both Eurofighters and Rafales or they decided to drop Eurofighter and buy more Rafale?

IMO Rafale is better than Typhoon and even better than F35.

Not really sure, but I think EFT will be cut maybe.

I believe their interest in the Typhoon (I could be wrong let's see) as well as interests on other European countries' hardware was more to put pressures on France to come with better terms on the contracts and to drop human rights BS Macron told Al-Sissi about.... the Egyptians showed us it would cost us billions of € in lost deals....

 

[Vergennes]

The contract also includes the upgrade of the Rafale currently in service within the EAF to the F3R standard.

 

[Philip the Arab]

The contract also includes the upgrade of the Rafale currently in service within the EAF to the F3R standard.

Can you give a source?

 

[Philip the Arab]

Given the UAE has ordered the F35 I think we can take out the UAE off the list. (Unless they would operate both)

Not sure, they could possibly acquire Rafales within the distant future to replace Mirage-2000-9s unless they want to operate just the F-16Es and the F-35s.

 

[Vergennes]

Can you give a source?

Someone very close to Dassault (in fact working for it) on a French forum. Egypt planned for a long time to upgrade them to the F3R standard anyway.

 

[Vergennes]

Egypt is negociating the acquisition of two A330 MRTT and a military satellite from France.

 

[Cypro]

This is the best time to get second hand A330 and MRTT kits actually, are they buying conversion kits or fresh new ones? Turkey should consider A330 MRTT kits despite bad relations.