Egypt to receive F-15 aircraft from US: CENTCOM commander

CAIRO - 16 March 2022: Head of US Central Command Fran McKenzi said on Tuesday that the US will likely provide Egypt with F-15 aircraft, Reuters reported.

"I think we have good news in that we're going to provide them with F-15s, which was a long, hard slog," McKenzie said during a congressional hearing.

McKenzie, however, did not provide details about the timing or the number of the aircraft the US will be handing to Egypt.

Mckenzi paid a visit to Egypt in February, McKenzie where he said he discussed the bilateral military relations in a meeting with Egyptian Minister of Defense Mohamed Zaki.

“We talked about the enduring strategic nature of the relationship between the US and Egypt and how important Egypt is to the US and the US Central Command,” McKenzie said.

He hailed Egypt as the historical and cultural center of the Arab world, saying the long history of cooperation between Egypt and the US is very important for the US.

He also praised his discussions with Egyptian leaders as “frank, straightforward, and cordial”.

$2.2 billion military sale

Last week, the US Senate backed a $2.2 billion sale of C-130 Super Hercules planes to Egypt, Reuters reported.

Republican Senator Rand Paul had sought to stop the sale, joined by some of the 100-member Senate's most progressive Democrats.

The sale of 12 C-130J-30 Super Hercules planes for as much as $2.2 billion would include support equipment, spares and technical support, the Pentagon said. Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) is the prime contractor for the planes.

According to the US Department of Defense, Egypt has earlier requested to buy twelve of the C-130 planes as well as 12 Rolls Royce AE-2100D turboprop engines, 30 Embedded GPS/INS, 7 multifunctional information distribution system, and other equipment and elements of logistical and program support.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important strategic partner in the Middle East,” the US Department of Defense said in January.

The Defense Department also affirmed that the proposed sale will contribute to enhancing Egypt’s capabilities to face ongoing and future threats.

“This comes through providing airlift support for its forces by moving supplies, equipment, and people, thus strengthening its capacity in the security and humanitarian arena,” the department added.

The proposed sale of the equipment included in the $2.2 billion program also will not alter the basic military balance in the region, the department affirmed.