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Egypt's air force looking to Russia after 25-yr w/ U.S. fighters
From Geostrategy-Direct, subscription.MOSCOW â Egypt is weighing the purchase of advanced Russian-origin aircraft after 25 years of maintaining a U.S.-origin air fleet. Egypt has more than 220 F-16 multi-role fighters and has been negotiating to procure at least another 50 such platforms. Russian industry sources said Moscow has briefed the Egyptian Defense Ministry and air force on several combat aircraft. They said Russia's Rosoboronexport has offered to transfer technology and enable Egyptian coproduction of any aircraft selected by the air force of the Arab League state. "Egypt has been considered a key target in Rosoboronexportâs marketing strategy in the Middle East," an industry source said. "The size of the aircraft deal is not the issue. Any Egyptian decision to purchase Russian combat aircraft would mark a major achievement." Egypt has long considered the procurement of an advanced non-U.S. aircraft in an effort to challenge the Israeli air force, which depends on U.S. platforms. Egypt might be also using its negotiations with Russia as a lever to procure advanced aircraft and subsystems from the United States. Sources said Cairo has examined the MiG-29SMT, regarded as the most advanced model of the MiG-29. Algeria and Libya have considered the aircraft, while Yemen has purchased 16 such platforms. RSK-MiG, the manufacturer of the MiG-29SMT and two-seater UBT, has offered to transfer technology and enable coproduction of the aircraft in Egypt, the sources said. Russia would also help Egypt establish maintenance and logistics facilities for regional service of MiG fighters. In addition, the Russian manufacturer has agreed to acquire scores of obsolete MiG-21 aircraft from Egypt as part of any deal for the MiG-29SMT. The sources said RSK-MiG would allow Egypt to defray some of the cost of the MiG-29 with the surplus MiG-21s. Egypt has also been considering a partnership with several Arab allies to purchase the MiG-29SMT. Under the proposal, Egypt would join Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a major aircraft program. Another option is for Egypt to join Gulf Cooperation Council states in procuring the MiG-AT jet trainer, the sources said. Under the proposal, MiG-AT, developed by EADS and RSK-MiG, would be coproduced in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. So they want MiGs because they want to fight the Israelis eventually with the rest of the Arabs. It just goes to show that they have a death wish, and that they rather spend their treasure on weapons when they do not really have the economy to support it. Or a sugar daddy like SA will support them. You cannot buy friends by giving them $2 billion annually. Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-01-20 |
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