Dassault med kvikt salg til Egypt

Egypt Confirms Rapid Order for Rafale Fighter

by Charles Alcock and

 - February 13, 2015, 9:30 AM

Dassault could deliver the first of 24 Rafale fighters ordered by Egypt before the end of 2015. [Photo: Dassault]

                                                                  Egypt is ordering 24 of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighters. The deal,                                                                       confirmed by the French manufacturer in a short statement late on                                                                           February 12, has been concluded in barely three months                                                                                         following an exceptionally fast acquisition process that only started                                                                           officially in November 2014. Dassault is expected to deliver the first                                                                         three Rafales to Egypt later this year, with another three to                                                                                       follow in 2016. The timeline for the remaining 18 aircraft has yet to be                                                                     confirmed.

                                                                  Egyptian and French defense officials made initial contact at the end of                                                                   September 2014, when French President François Hollande visited                                                                         Egypt and met with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.                                                                                                   Dassault Aviation president andCEO Eric Trappier first met with al-Sisi                                                                     in December and final agreement was reached, but not confirmed                                                                           publicly, on February 6. “I would like to thank the French                                                                                           authorities, which were behind the Rafale program and have provided                                                                     the political support, without which we cannot make any military                                                                               exports,” said Trappier. The Egyptian order to renew its air force                                                                             fleet is a significant boost for Dassault, where negotiations aimed at                                                                         concludingan order from India for 126 Rafales have been dragging on                                                                     for three years. Trappier today told                                                                                                                             French TV station BFMTV that he is “very confident” that the Indian                                                                           order will be finalized. Egypt is the first confirmed export customer for                                                                     the Rafale, which has been in service with the French military                                                                                   since 2001. Egypt also was the first export customer for Dassault’s                                                                         Mirage 2000 warplane.