Eqypt may order 12 Rafale more from France.

Egypt is likely to order a batch of 12 Rafale  aircraft from French Dassault, during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron this week in Egypt.

Rafale fighter jet at Salon du Bourget in France (Picture source : Air Recognition)

These 12 Rafale fighter jets, expected to be ordered by the Egyptian government, are to complete the first order of 24 Rafale jets Egypt had made in 2015. This first purchase, for an amount of $US 6 billion (including a FREMM multipurpose frigate and the supply of some missiles), is part of a real convergence between both governments on the Rafale issue.

This second purchase is in fact an option on the original contract of 2015, which mentioned the possibility for Egypt to pursue the negotiations on a new batch of Rafale fighters. In addition to that, Egypt is still considering purchasing other French equipment, such as a follow-on order for Gowind corvettes, and the completion of the Rafale contract could serve as a boost to France's efforts to secure a new arms deal with the Egyptian government.