Whatever sanctions they will place on us is better than what they did to limit our airforce theres no harsher punishment than having your land violated and cant counter it.
You think so? Interesting that you say that because most people fear sanctions quite a bit as certain ones can be quite crippling to even powerful nations. But, it also depends on what sanctions are implemented. Also they're like a powerful adhesive, once applied, very difficult and costly to have them removed. Then they really have to factor the cost vs benefit; is a batch of 20 or 36 or even 40 Su-35SE's worth the damage of sanctions? It's certainly a difficult decision Sisi & co. will have to make. Although when you listen to how general McKenzie worded that quote and said good news Egypt "we are going to provide them with F-15s." That sounds like a done deal and that the EAF has accepted whatever they negotiated for.
That said, we know the US' stance on providing their F-15s means no Su-35S' as they are very adamant about that. This all tells me that it's pretty much a done deal and that the EAF has most certainly (and unfortunately) cancelled the Su-35S deal with Russia. They lose whatever money they paid so far and Iran or maybe China will make a deal to take the aircraft.
Honestly, I have been giving it a lot of thought and IMO, I think the EAF is better off with the F-15s. Here's why - they can push for the AIM-120 (which is still worthy even when the AIM-260 comes out) because they still need to equip the F-16s with them and increase their lethality, since they certainly will be keeping the F-16 fleet for a long time. That aircraft is one of the most versatile and working horse that most air forces which operate large numbers of them like the EAF will very likely keep them operable for at least another 20+++ years. So why not get them stronger and better? Makes all the sense to me. Then they'll have the F-15 (which let's face it, it's better than the Su-35S) and will give the EAF a huge leap in strength and considerably lowered the aircraft's RCS. Not only is it a great dogfighter, but by increasing the composite level of its panels, they've lowered its RCS and have also improved its avionics including a much better AESA radar in the new EX model. The airframe has also been upgraded to last 20 years which is unheard of! Most airframes are rated for 6 years maximum and this one is 20?!?! We also know what the payload is on that aircraft as it can carry an enormous amount of munitions.
Then there is the ever so important coms issue where it will fit right in with Link-16 & Rafales and easily operate with the EAF's E-2C Hawkeyes, sat coms, the entire fleet of F-16s and fit right in. this as well as work with important allies in the region on a much better and closer level such a Greece, even other NATO members flying over the Mediterranean. Then there is Saudi and the UAE that you mentioned and having this compatibility will bring the EAF in a much closer and righter operational capability with those two brotherly nations. That's a huge factor. This cannot be said for the Su-35S although the latter would fit into the 2nd fleet of Russian aircraft in only the MiG-29M/M2s and possibly the MiG-35s. Hopefully the EAF's RSC2 network works very well and combines all platforms giving them coms in real time and not delayed. That part is most critical so that both types would now operate as one instead of two separate ones which becomes a drag. JTAC would now be improved on a much better scale. All these are benefits to acquiring the F-15 more so than the Su-35S. This is why they most likely agreed to it since I'm sure they not only know all the stuff I just mentioned, but much more of course.
So, once they've settled on the F-15s with the US, they can move on to the Su-57 or Su-75 to introduce some aspect of stealth into the EAF. By then they can argue with the US that this is separate from the Su-35 deal and that since the US has denied the F-35 to Egypt, it now has the right to pursue other avenues and since China doesn't export its aircraft much, the only other choice would be Russia's Su-57 and Su-75. I think those steps are the best way for the EAF to get what it wants and begin to jump into the stealth realm of aircraft as soon as possible as to not left behind. Sorry for the long post!
UAE and saudi are thinking off buiding a pipe to israel to transport their oil saving money anf avoiding the suez canal and it looks like they might do it
It appears that since the Russo/Ukrainian war that the traffic through the Suez Canal has increased exponentially, prompting the government and the canal's authority to increase the transit fees again. I'm sure that hasn't made a lot of nations and corporations using the canal on a regular basis too happy. But that is the way it is and I would think that with the assistance of UAE and especially Saudiya through the decades of brotherly friendship between the two countries that Egypt gives Saudi some relief or benefits in the transit of their ships through the canal as a form or payback and gratitude. Same with the UAE, I just can't see them charging those two countries the standard rate and that they give them some sort of relief.
But, if it's just for delivering to Israel, then the canal is not relevant whatsoever. Their route would be from the right side of Sinai instead, through the Straights of Tiran up the Gulf of Aqaba and right to the port of Eilat. No canal at all. But for their shipping to point Europe, that would certainly be through the Suez Canal. By knowing roughly that at least Saudi Arabia's volume of oil export is huge, their shipping transit would be a large loss to Egypt there is no doubt about that.
