i don't think usa will provide it to us , however we will get the R77 with upcoming migs
I don't think that USA will give us AMRAAM 120 ...as you know we have 200+ F16 with AMRAAMs will be a great threat...thus USA cannot tolerate...so we will be armed with a huge number of R77, MICA and METEOR.
@Amir_Pharaoh @Hell NO
I know this is a bit pessimistic but I don't think the F-16 has a bright future (or present) in the Egyptian Air Force.
Without the AIM-120 and AIM-9X (accompanied with the JHMCS) the Egyptian -16 is at a severe disadvantage both in terms of its WVR and BVR performance compared to the rest of the region (that operates sophisticated kit).
That's simply no longer acceptable especially when the EAF is starting to induct 4+ generation fighters with electronically scanned radars, medium to long range (active) BVR missiles and short range high of bore sight missiles.
Even our Mig-21s and F-7s were upgraded to have HOBS capability with the R-73. How can an obsolete platform that is being actively retired have a capability (or one up) that the mainstay and backbone of the EAF does not? It's preposterous.
The use of the F-16 as an interceptor or air superiority fighter against a near peer or advanced adversary is simply out of the question. Instead what we are beginning to see is the introduction of French and Russian aircraft to take over those roles while the -16 is being relegated to close air support, reconnaissance, wild weasel, maritime strike, and precision strike.
Even in some of those roles the Egyptian -16 is still not on the same level as other jets within the region. It lacks the latest generation of precision guided munitions (still operating previous generation of Paveway) and lacks a true stand off capability.
The weapons systems that the US has simply rejected us makes persevering with the -16 pointless as it has a limited future with the EAF especially considering some airframes may have to operate past 2030-2040 where fifth gen aircraft will dominate. With its orders dwindling and production line coming to a halt we probably wont be adding more airframes.
Investing in upgrades as well seems pointless when you consider they wont operate the weapons systems that accompany said upgrades.
I truly think that a large chunk of the -16 fleet should be sold off to fund either a new lightweight multirole fighter that offers us all the near peer capabilities the EAF requires or more Rafales (preferably more Rafales).
I also think the money spent on the Mig-35 would have been better spent on Rafales, although it isn't perfect it is a lot better than the -35 and has plenty of growth potential considering its only near its third tranche whereas the Mig-35 is probably the end of the road for the Mig-29 (plus Mig is struggling). In my honest opinion Russian jets was a bad move.
My fifty pence, sell off a lot of them and start a Navy Air Corps and Army Air Corps with the remaining F-16s (plus Apaches and other aircraft either operating with the Navy and Army would go into those corps). Buy a shed load more Rafales, possibly try be sneaky and steal the local production/assembly deal off of the Indians.
Rant over.
@Taygibay
Are there any plans to introduce a European anti-radiation missile? Any plans on integrating the AGM-88?
