There is no misconception regarding EAF F-16s BVR capability, their F-16s are capable to carry semi active and active BVRs but they are not sold by US and never will be allowed to integrate Active BVRAAM AIM-120...it is as simple as that.
There are many misconceptions about every armed force in the world, the most common one on the internet and amateur military forums about the EAF is that it lacks "BVR technology" which is factually untrue.
The EAF has acquired sufficient numbers of AIM-7 M/P to fulfill its needs, some of which were assembled in Egypt, fun little fact.
husseni mubark and any legal/illegal governments followed by it have always been weak there is no chance EAF F-16s will ever be equipped with any western BVRs.
The US refuses to provide Egypt with the AIM-120 due to the Armed Force's refusal to sign the Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement. The military believes it is an infringement on its and the nations security, that is the reason why the US does not allow Egypt to procure certain weapons systems, although Zionist pressure at times is effective, however, it is mostly due to this, nothing to do with 'weak governments'. Misconception 2 splashed.
I previous posted EAF might go for SU-35 or get into negotiations but I did not anticipate Mig-35 this is the only aircraft EAF should stay away from.
Why? it's a great platform. If the EAF requires a heavy fighter mainly aimed at air superiority then I see no reason why they would not be able to request it, especially after the warming of ties and a strategic shift in foreign policy.
. Those who are advocating JF-17 it seem though it has been rejected or the negotiating went into cold storage as well as there are technical problems such as No Chinese engine as yet.
Could be. Don't really know any thing with the Egyptian Armed Forces, as stated before they are not really big on announcing their plans, the only reason we know anything about these deals is because of the Russians, nothing official has come out of the government or the Armed Forces.
Do note that EAF has 10 [some 200-210] squadrons equipped with vintage aircraft including mig-21, F-7, Mirage III, F-4 Phantoms.
I'm well aware. All of the F-4 Phantoms have been retired, the majority of Mig 21s and F-7s have been retired, those that remain are attached to the Air Defence command for point defence, all of them will be retired by the end of 2016. The Mirage III has been upgraded to Horus standard (similar to that of Pakistan's ROSE) and will continue its service for a while longer, although reportedly only 1-2 squadrons of them remain.
Not all can be replaced with SU-35 which are expensive atleast $60m per aircraft not including life cycle complete support/costs which could end up estimated 120-140m over the period for say 28-30 years.
Which is why you have a hi-low mix of aircraft, i.e large quantities of multi-role aircraft (F-16, M2K, Mig-35?, JF-17?) and possibly one or two squadrons of heavy air superiority fighters (SU-35?, F-15? etc.).
