The Jewish Press » » Egypt Signing Unprecedented $3 Billion MIG-35 Deal with Russia
Egypt Signing Unprecedented $3 Billion MIG-35 Deal with Russia
By: Jewish Press Staff
Published: April 22nd, 2014
Ehud Ya’ari of Israel’s Channel 2 News reported on Tuesday night, that Egypt and Russia will be signing an unprecedented military agreement.
In this agreement between Cairo and Moscow, Egypt will receive 24 of Russia’s advanced Mikoyan MiG-35 fighter jets, along with military and strategic advisers, as well as training for the Egyptian Air Force.
The deal is worth $3 billion.
It follows in the footsteps of
a $2 billion arms deal that Egypt signed with Russia in February, and was primarily funded by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The
deal itself has been in the works since November, as JewishPress.com reported when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited Cairo and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and developed in response to
decreased US military aid to Egypt.
This deal is a major setback to US policy and diplomacy in the Middle East, and is a direct slap in the face for U.S. President Obama.
Egypt, Russia said close to deal for advanced jets
In potential shift of orientation away from US, Cairo said hosting delegation of advisers from Moscow to discuss MiG-35 purchase
BY TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF AND
AFP April 22, 2014, 10:39 p
Egypt is slated to sign a deal with Russia to purchase 24 advanced MiG-35 fighter jets, Israel’s Channel 2 news reported Tuesday, citing official sources in Moscow and Cairo.
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Ahead of the agreement for the sophisticated aircraft — not sold as of yet to any other country — a delegation of Russian advisers are currently in Cairo meeting with officials.
According to a February report of the deal,
Egypt was prepared to buy a number of MiG-29 planes, as well as Mi-35 helicopters and other hardware, for over $3 billion. RIA Novosti listed Saudi Arabia and the UAE as funding the purchase.
It is not known when the planes would be sent to Egypt.
The Russian Air Force is waiting on 100 new MiG 35s, which are expected to be delivered in 2016, according to a report in Jane’s Defence last week.
The sale to Egypt could be seen as a major blow to US President Barack Obama, who has fought charges of weakening US power in the face of Russian intervention in Ukraine. The Channel 2 analyst described it as a potential case of “Obama losing Egypt to Putin.”
The US, which sends over $3 billion in annual aid to Egypt as part of the Camp David peace accord with Israel, has supplied most of Egypt’s military hardware since 1979.
However, Washington has threatened to withhold some funding following a military coup that saw defense chief Abdel Fattah el-Sissi seize power from Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in July.
The country is scheduled to hold elections next month, with Sissi expected to cruise to victory.
The election has turned into a contest between the ex-army chief lauded by millions for ousting an Islamist government and a leftist who claims to represent the ideals of the 2011 uprising.
Sissi’s sole rival is Hamdeen Sabbahi, who came third in the 2012 election which Morsi won, and is seen by supporters as the only leader representing the aspirations of those who revolted against the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is a vocal supporter of Sissi, having endorsed his candidacy in February, before Sissi announced he would run.
RT : Mon , 21 /4/2014
Egypt considers buying Russian MiG-35