GRAPHICS – Cairo command 24 fighter planes and a frigate to 5 billion euros. The contract will be signed on Monday in Cairo by Egyptian President al-Sissi.
This is a statement from the Elysee that the news was formalized. “The Egyptian authorities have just let me know their intention to acquire 24 Rafale combat aircraft and multimission frigate (FREMM) and associated equipment, announced François Hollande, Thursday evening. This equipment will allow Egypt to increase its security and to play its role in the service of regional stability. “The Rafale” won his first export contract. The signing will take place Monday in Cairo, “further stated the President of the Republic, who asked his defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, sign” in the name of France. “
The ceremony will take place in the presence of Egyptian President al-Sisi, and the CEOs of the three companies involved: Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation (Dassault Group owns the Le Figaro ), Burst manufacturer Hervé Guillou, CEO of DCNS, manufacturer frigates, and Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA missile.
Egyptian order is valued at 5 billion euros. This is a historic contract for several reasons. He will be remembered for its rapid conclusion. It took just three months to tie up. President al-Sissi is indeed keen to strengthen as soon as his air defense, consisting of 5 and Mirage 2000 as Egypt faces a very safe environment degraded at its borders. On the one hand Libya, delivered at the hands of tribal militias, has become a new focus of Daech; the other, in the wilderness of Sinai, the Egyptian armed struggle against jihadists intrusions from Syria. The first Rafale will be delivered quickly and can “scroll” in August, during the inauguration of the Suez Canal extension.
History will also record that Egypt is the second time the first export customer of a French fighter. This was the case in 1981 with the Mirage 2000. Then, this control breaks with a long series of disappointments. That was fifteen years that France tried in vain to sell the Rafale export (the last export contracts dating back to 2000, with India for Mirage 2000 H and with Greece for Mirage 2000- 5 Mark 2). Netherlands to Morocco, to South Korea and more recently Brazil, the Rafale has never been chosen, as he left always first evaluations by foreign armies.
In January 2012, the trend has dramatically reversed, with the announcement by New Delhi choosing the Rafale to modernize its air force. India is then entered into exclusive negotiations with France to sign the “Contract of the Century” for the delivery of 126 aircraft for 10 billion euros. Of this total, 18 aircraft are to be delivered from France and other assembled in India, as part of a transfer of technology as unique and complex. Since then, negotiations are ongoing with India, in parallel with other countries interested in the Rafale, including Qatar.
Mais with Egypt, historical customer of Dassault Aviation, it is indeed a contract in due form. This first victory for export, which could trigger others, is a very good news for the French aviation industry. And in the first for Dassault Aviation and its partners in the Rafale team, the Thales defense electronics and engine manufacturer Safran, but also the 500 subcontractors and 7,000 French employees of the program. The Egyptian contract will indeed benefit many employment areas in France.
“It’s a great honor and I am very proud. My thoughts are with high Egyptian authorities, whom I thank for their confidence. We can expand our partnership with Egypt, “said Eric Trappier. “It is also a success for the team France, which worked well, everyone – political, or military authorities, industrial. – In his play area I also welcome the extreme rapidity of the decision of Egypt “says the CEO of Dassault Aviation to which this first Rafale export contract is” deserved “. “I hope he will call others in the coming months.”
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