SC, my bro, you know I love you to death, right? I'd jump off a bridge into freezing water for you, you know that. But let's really take a close look at this situation because of several important factors that make me respectfully disagree completely with you.
1) We have no idea what the weapons are in either of the contracts except for what we've seen in pictures for the first batch. We saw the MICA IR, EM, AASM HAMMERs in the 250kg & 500kg and the SCALPs. There was none of that mentioned in any of the official Dassault media releases whatsoever. As a matter of fact, they don't list any weapons anyway, only the number of aircraft and not even type such as F3-R or F4 etc. We already went through that, but my point is that nothing regarding weapons in any of the contracts has been officially released to the public. So we have no idea what is included until we see them, which brings me to point #2.
2) The IAF received 200 MICA-IR and 1000 MICA-RF as well as both size AASM HAMMERs AND Meteor missiles AHEAD of their 1st delivery of the 1st batch of 3 rafale fighters! We saw the pics.
Ahead of the aircraft they got all those weapons and the reason they ordered so many MICA RFs was because they had already agreed with Dassault & MBDA to allow them to integrate those missiles on their Su-30MKIs. Point is, they got their weapons including meteors before even getting any of the aircraft.
The same happened with Greece and the Hellenic Air Force. The transfer of the first 3 rafales from L'armee de L'air's inventory arrived in Athens which included MICA IR, ER, both HAMMERs, SCALPs AND METEORS! So our Greek brothers are all set which is a wonderful thing, of course.
Now, as of June 2021, the gas and sand state (talk about no redeeming qualities courtesy of the clown Joe Biden referring to the great kingdom of Saudiya that two-bit moron when we know that state is the one with absolutely nothing worthy of redeeming qualities and couldn't even lick Saudi Arabia's toe lint as far as being worthy) suddenly get meteor missiles for their Rafales? Really?
You said patience, and that is a beautiful redeeming quality from you. But let me at least ask, how do we sit and be patient when not only do we not have any conclusive information on any of the contracts, and most of all, India (IAF), Greece (HAF) and now the G&S state Qatar all received the meteor missiles while the great EAF, the 1st to order the Rafale and open the door wide open for Dassault and new customers once they saw how great the EAF was operating the aircraft came rushing to order the fighter in droves! And we're yet to see a single meteor in Egypt but Qatar gets them? How could we possibly be patient under all these obvious and negative circumstances? It's impossible. They should've been FIRST in EAF inventory before anyone else, let alone the gas and sand state!?!?! Really, Dassault & MBDA?
Given these circumstances, it's impossible to think they will ever arrive with the Rafales and they need to start pushing the Italians to GUARANTEE the acquisition of the meteors WITH the immediate first delivery of the Typhoons and follow that immediately by ending any more future purchases from Dassault. Then go with more Typhoons and Sukhois + MiGs. Because getting treated like this is worst than the way a 2-dollar hooker in Piccadilly Square gets treated. An absolute disgrace that the gas and sand state, unworthy of any viable partnership value except their $$$$$ should even get a glimpse at that missile before the EAF. Shame on Dassault and MBDA and France.
I don't want to see a single Typhoon show up anywhere near the north coast of Egypt without it being packed with at least 4 meteors each. Otherwise they don't go near them and forget about getting the aircraft first and then expect to wait for the missiles at a later date. That crap ain't working for this kid anymore and I really hope the EAF grows some you know what and lay down the law. Stop being passive to these mega corporations that will milk them like they have. It's a disgrace!
Oh, and that quote from
@sami_1 about the meteors are going to be coming to Egypt slowly, with the first batch being small and then slowly, slowly they'll start coming etc. WHUUUUUUT?! Seriously!? Who the heck ever came out with that huge load of steaming poop?! Someone please tell me lmaoooooo! That sounds much more like wishful compromising that anything remotely close to reality lololol. Sorry, sami, not laughing at you but at that "made-up theory."