The French group Dassault Aviation supplied, on 20 July to Egypt, the first three Rafale fighter aircrafts out of 24 planes ordered by this large North African country in the midst of a war against terrorism.

The presentation of these planes to the Egyptian authorities took place at the French military base of Istres in front of about one hundred attendees, with Ebad Badawy, the Egyptian ambassador in France, and Eric Trappier, CEO for Dassault Aviation present.

“These Rafale will contribute to establishing peace and security as well as helping our fight against terrorism, which is a common goal for France and Egypt”, declared the ambassador during the ceremony.

Confronted with attacks from the Islamic State group at the border with Libya and in the Sinai, the Marshal-President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi had decided, during autumn 2014, to strengthen its armament. This was translated, mid-February, by the signing of a contract worth €5.2 billion for 24 fighter aircrafts, a multi-mission Fremm frigate and short- and medium-range missiles.