Egypt receives third batch of Rafale warplanes from France

Egypt received on Wednesday the third batch of Rafale warplanes from France as part of a €5.2 billion ($5.5 billion) contract signed earlier in 2015.

Cairo has sought to boost its military power in the face of years of insurgency in northern Sinai and fears the conflict in neighbouring Libya could spill over.

The deal includes 24 Rafale jets, France’s first overseas export of the fighter jet made by Dassault Aviation SA, a Fremm naval frigate and MBDA air-to-air missiles.

Last year, Egypt also received the first of two French Mistral helicopter carriers and signed separate deals worth about 2 billion euros with France during a visit by French President Francois Hollande to Cairo.

Source: Reuters