The French defence industry, buoyed by the diplomatic and military entente between Cairo and Paris, has been reconquering market share in Egypt since the start of the year. It is counting on finance from the United Arab Emirates.
The improving relations between Egypt and the French defence industry were confirmed in May with the sale of 30 Dassault Rafale fighter jets. Another sign of confidence came on 22 and 23 September when an anti-drone seminar was held in Cairo. It brought together the Egyptian Army's general staff, including the air defence corps and a panel of experts on electronic warfare (radar, drones, and air traffic control), and French companies handpicked by the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA), the French army's procurement agency, which coordinated the event.
Heavyweights and startups stand to attention
MBDA and Thales presented their catalogue, as did emerging players in the anti-drone sector, such as MC2 Technologies, CS Group, CILAS, Cerbair, Innov'ATM and Hologarde. The French embassy in Cairo sent members of its military team to provide support. Colonel Guirec Fauchon, the defence attaché, and Lieutenant-Colonel Marc Jacoud, his deputy for air force matters, were both there.
The French defence industry has since the start of the year been slowly but surely working its way back into Egypt's good books (AI, 18/06/21) after having fallen out with its leaders, especially in the naval domain (AI, 26/04/21). This is a consequence of a diplomatic realignment outlined at the end of 2020 by the two countries' respective presidents, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Emmanuel Macron.
Abu Dhabi billions
The Egyptian military high command told the French delegations present at the meeting that potential orders could be financed by the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi has a close relationship with France in terms of defence cooperation and the fight against terrorism, positions that were reiterated during Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan's meeting with the French president in Fontainebleau on 15 September.
When Egypt bought its first batch of Rafale fighters in 2015, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait paid about $20bn to the Central Bank of Egypt, thus providing a guarantee for the loan granted by a dozen French institutions. The United Arab Emirates is also one of the leading investors in Egypt.
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