Deliveries of additional Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter aircraft to Egypt are continuing, further strengthening the Egyptian Air Force’s multi-role combat capability. Egypt became the first export customer for the Rafale in 2015, ordering an initial tranche of 24 aircraft. Deliveries of this first batch were completed by 2019.

 

In 2021, Cairo placed a second order for a further 30 Rafale fighters, valued at approximately €4.5 billion. This follow-on contract made Egypt the largest export customer for the French-built multi-role combat aircraft to date. According to publicly available information and Egyptian media reports, ten aircraft from this second tranche have now been handed over during 2024 and 2025.

 

By the beginning of 2026, around 40 Rafale fighters are expected to be in operational service with the Egyptian Air Force. These already include aircraft delivered in the F3R configuration, which are planned to be upgraded to the F4.2 standard in the future. In total, Egypt has ordered 54 Rafale fighter jets across the two tranches.

 

The F3R standard combines the RBE2 AESA radar with the long-range Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile supplied by MBDA. For advanced reconnaissance, target tracking and laser designation of both stationary and moving ground targets, the Rafale is equipped with the Talios electro-optical and infrared targeting pod from Thales, which now operates with AI-supported functionality.

 

Additional equipment includes the NARANG auxiliary fuel tank, GBU-16 laser-guided bombs, an automatic ground collision avoidance and warning system (AGCAS), and an advanced electronic warfare capability delivered through the SPECTRA self-protection suite.

 

Beyond Egypt, the Rafale is also set to receive increased attention in Austria from next year, as discussions progress around a potential successor to the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1. In this context, the more advanced F5 version of the Rafale, currently expected to enter service from around 2030, is likely to feature in future considerations.