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.
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.
