@The SC @HD Seeker-5000 @Gomig-21
So, as per this tactical report source, Egypt will indeed receive Meteor missiles. Does anybody know how credible this source is? If true, great, great, great news! I found the full article online.
“Egypt, France, and Rafale deal
Egypt and France have signed a contract for the procurement of 30 more Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation in favor of the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) (*).
Reports from Cairo suggest that the Rafale deal went through multiple stages of negotiations, and that the Egyptian side insisted on the delivery of MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM) with the Rafale fighters (**).
The United States and Israel had objected to the delivery of Meteor missiles to the EAF, to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME).
The US side was actually more concerned with Egypt’s intended use for these missiles. In fact, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) played an important role in delaying the Rafale deal, as it was convinced that Egypt will be up to “no good” after receiving such missiles.
Nevertheless, the deal went through, and the 30 Rafale fighters will be delivered with Meteor missiles.
Egypt received a discount on the 30 Rafales, which was crucial in persuading the Egyptian government to acquire more of these fighters.
France has also agreed to refurbish, maintain and upgrade the EAF’s Rafale fleet.
The 24 old Rafale fighters will receive software upgrades as well as further enhancements to ward off electronic warfare (EW).
Egypt also signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with Dassault Aviation that includes the establishment of a maintenance and training unit in Egypt, which will be in charge of training EAF engineers on maintaining and repairing Rafale fighters.
The unit will also help integrate the Rafale fighter command software into the Egyptian air command. Egypt is planning on integrating various fighter systems in one unified command software, since the EAF possesses various types of fighter jets with different and incompatible internal softwares.
Egypt is rumored to be developing its own integration software for its various fighters. This software will be unveiled during the opening of the Octagon, the new headquarters of Egypt’s Ministry of Defense.
(*) See: Egypt, France and talks of possible Rafale deal
(**) See: Egypt Air Force, interest in Meteor missiles
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<div> Egypt and France have signed a contract for the procurement ...</div>
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