The Egyptian Armed Forces has signed a contract with French company Dassault Aviation to procure 30 Rafale fighter jets.

Egypt’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) did not disclose the value of the procurement contract. However, Reuters cited investigative website Disclose as saying that the deal would be worth $4.5bn (€3.75bn).

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The contract would be financed through a ten-year loan.

The MoD said the aircraft purchase is ‘within the framework of the armed forces general command keenness to develop and strengthen state’s powers’.

The ministry also stated that the two countries had concluded a deal in 2015 to acquire 24 Rafale fighter jets for the Egyptian Air Force.

Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, Rafale is a twin-jet, multirole combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions, including ground and sea attacks.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The jet is equipped with sophisticated arms and weapon systems and an advanced electronic warfare system among several other capabilities.

In 2004, Rafale entered service with the French Navy while entering the French Air and Space Force in 2006.

The fighter aircraft is used in combat operations across various nations, including Afghanistan, Mali, Libya, Syria, and Iraq. In addition, Qatar, India and Greece have ordered the aircraft.

The latest deal follows a contract signed between Greece and France for the sale of 18 Rafales.

The Indian Air Force is also procuring 36 Rafale jets.

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact