Egypt is considering the purchase of 24 additional Rafale fighter jets from France, a move that could take its fleet to 78 aircraft and strengthen Dassault Aviation’s position in one of Africa’s largest defence markets.
- Egypt is considering purchasing 24 more Rafale fighter jets from France, which would increase its Rafale fleet to 78 aircraft.
- This potential deal strengthens Dassault Aviation’s market position in Egypt, already the first foreign Rafale customer since 2015.
- The Rafale’s reputation faced scrutiny after the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, where a Rafale was reportedly lost to Chinese-made J-10C fighters.
- Despite joint military exercises with China and Chinese attempts to promote domestic fighters, Egypt continues to favor French Rafales for its air force.
French newspaper La Tribune reported that Cairo recently sent a Request for Proposal, or RFP, to France and Dassault Aviation seeking technical and commercial terms for 24 additional Rafale fighter jets.
Egypt has operated the Rafale since 2015, when it became the aircraft’s first foreign customer and the first African country to order it, buying 24 jets.
It followed with another order for 30 Rafales in 2021 in a deal worth nearly €4 billion ($4.6 billion), financed over 10 years through a loan that was 85% guaranteed by the French government.
By the end of 2026, Egypt, widely regarded as Africa’s most powerful military, is expected to have 54 Dassault-built Rafales in service from the two earlier orders.
If the latest proposal becomes a contract, Cairo’s fleet would rise to 78 Rafales, further strengthening Egypt’s position as one of the largest foreign operators of the French fighter.
Ageing F-16 fleet creates opening for Dassault
The potential order comes as Cairo looks to replace part of its ageing F-16 fleet, which includes more than 200 aircraft from about 240 ordered over several decades.
La Tribune said the oldest include 42 Block 15 fighters delivered between 1982 and 1985, 40 Block 32 aircraft delivered between 1986 and 1988, and 47 Block 40 jets delivered between 1991 and 1995.
Consequently, the ageing fleet gives Dassault a potentially significant long-term market as Egypt modernises its air force.
India-Pakistan clash put Rafale under scrutiny
The renewed Egyptian interest is also notable because the Rafale’s reputation came under pressure after the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
Reuters reported that Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C fighters shot down at least one Indian Rafale during the fighting, citing US officials and accounts from Indian and Pakistani officials. India acknowledged losing aircraft but did not confirm that a Rafale was among them.
The incident drew attention to the performance of Western fighter jets against Chinese systems and briefly weighed on Dassault shares.
Indian officials cited intelligence gaps over the range of Pakistan’s Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missiles, while Reuters reported that the Rafale itself was not necessarily the main problem.
Subsequently, China was accused by a US congressional commission of using the conflict to undermine the Rafale’s reputation and promote Chinese fighters abroad, including through misleading or fabricated imagery. Beijing rejected the accusation.
China drills put Rafale and J-16 in focus
Meanwhile, the reported Egyptian request follows Cairo’s latest military exercises with China.
During the second Eagles of Civilization exercise in August, Chinese J-16 fighters trained alongside Egyptian Rafales and MiG-29M2 aircraft in air combat and other joint operations.
Notably, a Chinese YY-20A tanker also refuelled an Egyptian Rafale in flight, demonstrating growing interoperability between Chinese systems and Egypt’s mixed fleet of Western- and Russian-designed aircraft.
La Tribune argued that the reported Rafale request was commercially important because it suggested Cairo had not been persuaded to move away from the French aircraft despite Chinese efforts to promote its own combat jets in Egypt.
