French Officials Optimistic About Rafale Sale To Egypt.

France is optimistic that it will secure a contract to sell Dassault Rafale multirole fighters to Egypt, the head of the General Directorate for Armament (DGA) said on 9 February.

French Officials Optimistic About Rafale Sale To Egypt.

"We are all smiles," Laurent Collet-Billon told journalists during the French defence procurement agency's annual press briefing. "We are optimistic even though there is still some work to be done."

Although he did not confirm reports that Egypt would order 24 Rafales, Collet-Billon said the first delivery could take place as soon as 2018.

The Rafales that Dassault is currently assembling for the French Air Force at its Mérignac facility are mostly two seaters with nuclear weapons-related equipment, but the company could start diverting French jets to Egypt once these are completed.

Two days earlier, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Europe 1 radio that the negotiations with Egypt were "quite advanced".

Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier said in an interview published on 7 February that "we are close to striking a deal for the first Rafale export", although he would not name the country.

Meanwhile, French Navy chief Admiral Bernard Rogel confirmed to journalists on 9 February that Egypt was also interested in acquiring a FREMM frigate.

He said that France's second FREMM, Normandie (D561), which is currently completing its sea trials, could be handed over to Egypt later this year if its transfer does not impact on the French Navy over the longer term.