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Naval
Industry News - France, Egypt |
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Updated: Egypt About to Sign Contract for the Purchase of a FREMM Frigate
& 24 Rafale from France |
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According
to French daily newspaper Le Monde the agreement between Egypt
and France for the procurement of 24 Rafale
aircraft from Dassault Aviation, a FREMM
multi-mission frigate from DCNS and missiles from MBDA, has
been initialed by all parties today. The last step of this contract
amounting to more than 5 billion Euros is the official signature by
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi and by a French state representative
(the President or the minister of defense). According to Le Monde and Reuters, this last step could happen on Monday 16 February. Update: On Thursday night, the French President François Hollande issued the following statement: The Egyptian authorities have just let me know today of their intention to acquire 24 Rafale combat aircraft and a multi-mission frigate and associated equipment. This equipment will allow Egypt to increase its security and play a full role in favor of regional stability. The Rafale fighter won its first export contract. The [French] State is fully committed to this negotiation and its involvement has enabled the conclusions of this contract. The signing will take place in Cairo on [Monday] February 16 and I asked the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, to sign on behalf of France. |
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 FREMM Frigate Normandie during sea trials in the Mediterranean Sea |
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The
first rumors about the procurement of a FREMM Frigate by Egypt emerged
last fall as
we reported. Various French sources still claim that the Aquitaine
class Frigate to be sold is Normandie which was set to be delivered
to the French Navy by year end and which still has to conduct the first
ever MBDA-made Naval Cruise Missile live firing test. Other sources
have speculated that the Normandie will just be flying the
Egyptian flag during a military parade this summer (and French Air Force
Rafales will receive Egyptian Air Force roundels for the occasion and
fly at the parade) and another Frigate will actually be delivered to
the Egyptian Navy. The main "technical" issue is that Egypt wants the Frigate and Rafales quickly, however vessel's crew and jet pilots training will be a lengthy process (probably involving DCI which specializes in military training and transfers French military know how). Complex systems such as the DCNS FREMM or the Dassault Rafale cannot be mastered in a mere few weeks. Contacted by Navy Recognition, DCNS didn't wish to comment on the rumor. |
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