The website stated in a report: “In early September 2026, Egypt submitted an official request to France to purchase 24 additional Rafale fighter aircraft, in a decisive step that reflects Cairo’s military and geopolitical priorities.”
He continued: “This deal comes to put an end to the media hype that was raised on social media platforms regarding the Chinese J-16 fighter’s “superiority” over the Rafale by a score of seven to one during the “Eagles of Civilization 2026” maneuvers. Informed sources have confirmed that these reports were issued by Chinese blogs for purely propaganda and marketing purposes, and did not receive any official approval from the military authorities, which makes them far from being a reference in strategic purchasing decisions worth billions of dollars.”
According to the same website: “The fundamental reason behind the Egyptian adherence to the Rafale is purely logistical and economic equations. Under previous contracts, Egypt possesses 54 aircraft of this type whose delivery is expected to be completed by the end of this year, which means that the addition of 24 new aircraft will raise the size of the fleet to 78 fighters. This expansion allows the Air Force to make the most of the existing infrastructure, maintenance networks, simulators, weapons stocks, and trained technical personnel, which provides Cairo owes billions of dollars to build a new system for a different model. Moreover, the “Rafale” forms the backbone of Egypt’s plan to replace its aging fleet of more than 200 American-made F-16 fighters (models 15, 32, and 40), which date back decades, with modern fighters of the fourth and a half generation.
He continued: "The matter is not limited to logistical aspects only, but extends to operational independence. For years, the United States refused to provide Egypt with advanced long-range air-to-air missiles, such as the AMRAAM missile, which restricted the combat capabilities of its aircraft. In return, France gives Cairo complete freedom to arm the Rafale aircraft with advanced systems, which gives the Egyptian Air Force greater flexibility and operational independence without previously imposed Western restrictions on ammunition."
The website stressed that the most prominent factor in deciding this decision “remains directly linked to the continued American pressure on Cairo to prevent it from engaging in arms deals with the Chinese or Russian axis. Washington has a strong pressure card represented by the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act,” which threatens to impose harsh penalties on countries that purchase major weapons systems from Beijing or Moscow.”
The report also stated: “Egypt had previously been forced to withdraw from the deal to purchase Russian Su-35 fighters due to direct American threats. Therefore, resorting to France, an active member of NATO, is considered a “safe zone” from which Cairo protects itself from the evil of sanctions. Egypt also receives $1.3 billion annually as part of American military aid, and any radical shift towards adopting advanced Chinese combat platforms such as the J-16 will put this vital funding to the test, and threatens to cause severe damage to strategic relations between the two countries. "Both countries."
He added: “In light of these facts, Egypt is managing its national security file brilliantly through a “multipolar” strategy. On the one hand, Cairo allowed Chinese J-16 aircraft to fly over Africa for the first time and to fight the Rafale in unprecedented exercises, in a veiled message to the West stating that there are strategic alternatives available. On the other hand, and at the moment of financial and military decisiveness, Cairo chooses the French path to avoid crossing American “red lines.”
The Israeli website concluded by saying: “If the current deal is completed, Egypt will strengthen its position as a major power in the global club of Rafale operators alongside France, which will deepen the strategic alliance between Cairo and Paris. However, this Chinese-Egyptian military rapprochement was not without regional repercussions, as the joint maneuvers raised real concerns in New Delhi. India, which relies on the Rafale as a cornerstone of its air defense, fears that Beijing has exploited these exercises to analyze the aircraft’s performance and pass its tactical vulnerabilities to its close ally, Pakistan.”
