Egypt takes delivery of Second Batch of Rafale fighters

Egypt has taken delivery of three Rafale fighters from France, the second batch of fighter jets under a contact last signed last year.
The three fighters were delivered in Cairo on Thursday.
Egypt now has a total of six Rafales. The first batch of three aircraft was delivered in July.
Under the deal with France, Egypt ordered 24 Rafales and a FREMM frigate for its Navy. The frigate from DCNS is already operational.
upi.com

Egyptian navy buys 46 Ka-52K attack helicopters

Egypt is to acquire 46 navalised Kamov Ka-52K attack helicopters to equip its new French-built Mistral-class amphibious assault ships.
No delivery timeframe has been released, however, although Egypt is likely to receive the two helicopter carriers by mid-year.
The naval variant of the Ka-52 features folding coaxial rotors and stub-wings.
flightglobal

Egypt, France In Discussions Over NH90 Helicopter Buy

Negotiations were at an advanced stage as of October 1 between France, and Egypt for the sale of a significant number of NH90 medium helicopters. The order would be a follow-on to recent sales of French armament to the Arab country, especially corvettes, frigates and landing ships—all compatible with the NH90.
Egypt has not issued any formal request for proposals for the multi-role helicopter.
Saudi Arabia is believed to be funding Egypt’s latest weapons purchases.
Egypt may choose between the tactical transport (TTH) and naval (NFH) versions of the NH90, or a mix of the two. The NFH can operate from Gowind-class corvettes or FREMM frigates, and both variants can be based on a Mistral-class landing ship.
Russian candidates like the Kamov Ka-27/29 and the Mi-17 are seen as relatively old technology or not fit for operations aboard ships. Egypt recently ordered Ka-52 attack helicopters, also believed to be intended for use on landing ships. In addition to protecting the Suez Canal, the newly purchased helicopters may help the country support Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen.
Late last month, the French Navy took delivery of its 15th NH90 naval variant, the first to be delivered in final radar configuration.
ainonline

France, Egypt agree on Mistral warship deal

France has agreed to sell two Mistral helicopter carriers to Egypt after their sale to Russia was cancelled in August.
Cairo has sought to boost its military power in the face of a two-year insurgency based across the Suez Canal in the Sinai peninsula and fears the conflict in neighbouring Libya could spill over. Egypt's allies are also keen to burnish its image in a region beset by turmoil.
A French defence ministry source said the contract was worth about 950 million euros, but unlike the deal with Moscow would not include any technology transfer.
As of yet there had been no talks on the potential armament for the carrier, which can hold up to 16 helicopters and 1,000 troops.
A diplomatic source said Cairo wanted to base one ship in the Mediterranean and another in the Red Sea, making it available for future operations in Yemen, where Egypt is part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels.
The French government agreed to reimburse 950 million euros to Moscow last month after the Mistral sale to Russia was cancelled as a result of the Ukraine crisis.
The deal with Egypt comes as France has nurtured new links with Sunni Arab states, which appreciate its tough stance on their Shi'ite rival Iran and similar positions on the region's conflicts.
France has also benefited from what some Gulf countries perceive as disengagement from a traditional ally, the United States.
The sale will take the number of French naval vessels sold to Egypt to seven in just two years.
Egypt last year bought four small Gowind warships, built by Mistral manufacturer DCNS, which is 64 percent owned by the French state and 35 percent by defence group Thales.
It also acquired a French frigate as part of a 5.2 billion euro contract for 24 Rafale warplanes earlier this year, France's first overseas export of the fighter jet.
reuters

USA Clears Sale of 12 F-16 To Egypt

The White House lifted an executive hold on weapon sales to Egypt Tuesday, as part of a broader attempt to "modernize" the military relationship between the two countries.
President Obama informed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the change in the administration's posture. The loosening of restrictions comes just days after Egypt began bombing operations against militants in Yemen.
Since a military coup in October 2013, the White House has frozen military sales to Egypt in hopes it would force democratic reforms in the nation.
In the short term, the US will clear the sale of 12 F-16 aircraft, 20 Harpoon missiles and up to 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits, which had been held up.
defensenews

Ambassador IV missile craft bound for Egypt

The first two Ambassador IV-class fast missile craft to be built for Egypt in the United States are being prepared for delivery.
The two vessels were seen being loaded into a civilian transport ship in Florida, on 25 May. First-of-class S Ezzat (682), which was officially handed over to the Egyptian Navy on 19 November. The second Ambassador IV, F Zekry (683), was handed over in December.
janes

Egypt Receives 1st US-Built Missile Craft

While most military sales to Egypt remain on hold, the US is going ahead with the transfer of four new fast missile craft.
The S. Ezzat, first of the Ambassador III class, was transferred Tuesday to the Egyptian Navy at a ceremony in Pensacola, Fla..
The second ship, F. Zekry, is nearly complete, with delivery planned for December.
Two more FMCs, the M. Fahmy and A. Gad, remain under construction, and are expected to be delivered in 2014.
The 62-meter FMCs have been built under a US Navy-managed program funded largely under the Foreign Military Sales program. Begun in 2001, the program moved forward in fits and starts until the first construction contracts were awarded in Sept. 2008.
The stealthy, 700-ton ships are powered by three MTU diesels and designed for a top speed of 41 knots. The FMCs are armed with eight Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles and an OTO Melara 76 mm gun, with self-defense provided by a Rolling Airframe Missile launcher and a Close-In Weapon System Block 1B. They are designed to operate at sea for up to eight days.
The ships are specifically designed to defend the Suez Canal region.
The Egyptian Navy operates several classes of fast missile ships, built in the Soviet Union, Germany and Britain, but the last was delivered in 1982.
Delivery of the ships was questionable after the Egyptian military overthrew the country’s elected government in July. A State Department review of all US military aid programs to Egypt was held, and some major US programs have been suspended, including the transfer of F-16 jet fighters, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and M1 Abrams main battle tanks.
Some programs, however, have been allowed to go ahead, particularly those helping Egypt to uphold peace treaty obligations with Israel, and assets to fight counterterrorism and security in Sinai.

Puesta la quilla de futuras fragatas furtivas lanzamisiles de Egipto/ Singapore's VT Halter Lays Egyptian Keel

El astillero VT Halter Marine, propiedad de una firma de Singapur, ha puesto la quilla de la primera de cuatro fragatas lanzamisiles para la Armada Egipcia, en sus instalaciones de Pascagoula, estado de Mississipi. Las cuatro fragatas serán utilizadas por la Marina Egipcia para patrulla costera, vigilancia, interdicción, ataque a superficie y apoyo a grupos de combate navales. Serán costeadas por la U.S. Navy.
Miden 64 metros de eslora y desplazan 750 tm. Su armamento incluye un cañon de 76 mm. en proa y un sistema antiaéreo Phalanx de 20 mm. Los buques incluyen numerosos sistemas de combate y sensores electrónicos, lo que les confiere capacidad antiaérea, antibuque y de guerra electrónica.
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Singapore-owned VT Halter Marine laid the keel for the first of four Egyptian Navy stealthy Fast Missile Craft (FMC) vessels during on April 7 at a shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula, Miss. The $807 million contract will provide the Egyptian Navy with four FMCs designed to perform coastal patrol, surveillance, interdiction, surface strike and naval battle group support. The U.S. Navy is procuring the ships for Egypt.
They are 64 meters length and 750 metric tons. Weapons include a 76mm cannon forward and a 20mm Phalanx close-in weapons system aft. The vessels will also incorporate numerous combat system assets and electronic sensors, equipping the vessels with capabilities in anti-aircraft, anti-surface and electronic warfare.