New discussions between French and Egyptians
In this context, Egypt, which says it is ready to intervene in Libya to counter Turkish aid to the GEN, believes that it really needs new armaments, in particular combat aircraft. So she will certainly buy some from the Russians, who were recently in Cairo to complete the sale of 12 Sukhoi. The warming between France and Egypt is already allowing French arms manufacturers to rediscuss with the Egyptian authorities. "There are again fairly frequent exchanges between France and Egypt," we confirm at La Tribune. And this mainly concerns a new Rafale order, according to concordant sources. But the country also depends for these arms purchases on the aid of Gulf countries, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which support Abdel Fattah al-Sissi.
Beyond the Rafale, France also mentions the arming of the Mistral helicopter carriers (MBDA) and the two optional Gowind corvettes. A file which will come rather in 2021 or 2022. By then, Naval Group, which agreed to a commercial gesture for its client, the Egyptian navy, will have to have definitively settled the file of the tree line of the faulty Egyptian Gowind corvette . She was also repatriated to France to be repaired there. "Until this matter is settled, Naval Group will be limited in its ability to offer other sales to Egypt," said one. In any case, between the boss of the Egyptian Navy Admiral Ahmed Khaled and Naval Group, the discussion channel has reopened. Finally, Egypt knows that it also has a need for means of observation, particularly in the Libyan theater. Russians offer optical satellites while Thales discusses sale of radar imaging satellite, manufactured by Thales Alenia Space (TAS) in Italy with services offered by Telespazio