The Egyptian Air Force is on the brink of enhancing its aerial capabilities with the imminent arrival of the first batch of six Dassault Rafale F3 fighters, expected by the end of this year. One of these supersonic jets, already bearing Egyptian markings and the inscription “EM09” on the tail, was recently spotted at the manufacturer’s facilities in France.
Egypt’s order for 30 new Rafale F3-R fighters in 2021 followed the cancellation of a deal for Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia. This new batch of Rafale fighters represents a significant upgrade from the 24 fighters previously acquired, the majority of which (18 jets) are the two-seat DM variant. The Rafale F-3R, introduced in 2018, boasts enhanced weaponry and avionics systems, including integration with MBDA’s Meteor long-range air-to-air missile.
The Rafale F-3R has been succeeded by the Rafale F4.2, which features greater connectivity with other platforms and an advanced RBE2 AESA radar, among other improvements. It is believed that Egypt’s new Rafale aircraft could eventually be upgraded to incorporate these advanced features.
Expanding Egypt’s Fleet
Amid rising regional tensions, Egypt, like many other Middle Eastern countries, has been expanding its fighter fleet. In addition to the Rafale, Egypt has engaged in discussions to acquire F-15s and even Eurofighter Typhoons, although no deals have been finalized to date.
The Egyptian Air Force currently operates a diverse fleet, including: 24 Rafales, 19 Mirage 2000s, 43 MiG-29s, 80 Mirage 5s, and 218 F-16s (including A/B and C/D variants).
The F-16 remains the mainstay of Egypt’s fighter fleet, reflecting the country’s strategic emphasis on maintaining a robust and versatile air force.
Although, last March, the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) Rafale fleet became the first export customer to reach 10,000 flying hours on the type, having flown the Rafale since 2015.
In December 2023, at Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX) 2023, Safran Aircraft Engines and the Egyptian Air Force signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the company’s new EngineLife® services solution. According to the terms of the agreement, this MoU will cover through-life support (TLS) for the M88 engines powering Egypt’s current fleet of 24 Rafale on a by-the-hour basis with guaranteed levels of availability.
In February 2021, Egypt reached an agreement with France for the purchase of 30 additional Rafale fighter jets worth 3.75 billion euros ($4.5 billion). Eighteen single-seat models of the Rafale and 12 twin-seaters are to be delivered between 2024 and 2026, according to the French defence ministry.
Later that year, the deal with Dassault was confirmed and announced to have come into force on 15 November. “In a demanding geopolitical context, Egypt has chosen the Rafale to ensure its role as a key player in the regional and international arena, in full sovereignty. This is an honour for Dassault Aviation and its partners, who are fully committed to meeting the expectations of the Egyptian authorities,” said Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.