Dassault Aviation delivers first Rafales to the Arab Republic of Egypt

This first delivery comes just five months after the Egyptian decision to acquire 24 Rafales (16 two-seaters and eight single-seaters) in order to equip its Air Force with a latest-generation multirole fighter capable of meeting the country's operational requirements and enabling Egypt, with full sovereignty, to secure its geostrategic position in the region.
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At the same time, an initial group of Egyptian users has been trained in France. Egyptian pilots, trained by the French Air Force, will fly the first three Rafales to Cairo on the day after the ceremony. 

Dassault Aviation Chairman & CEO Eric Trappier said: “This contract constitutes a new milestone in the cooperation between Dassault Aviation and Egypt since the 1970s – more than 40 years of an exemplary partnership marked by commitment and mutual trust. After the Mirage 5, the Alpha Jet and the Mirage 2000, the Rafale is the fourth Dassault aircraft to fly in Egyptian colors, and Egypt is the first export customer for the Rafale, as it was for the Mirage 2000. We are very pleased with this partnership, which over time has shown its solidity and ensured the durability of the historical links between our two countries. 

“On behalf of Dassault Aviation and its 8,000 employees, its partners Thales and Snecma and the 500 subcontractors, I thank the Egyptian authorities, for the trust they have placed in us once again, and also the authorities and the French armed forces, without whose support this success would not have been possible.”