Looks like another nation might join the ranks of operating BOTH Typhoon and Rafale;
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egyp ... completing

GDB wrote:

Looks like another nation might join the ranks of operating BOTH Typhoon and Rafale;
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egyp ... completing

What I've wondered with all these countries with Typhoon and Rafale (and potentially US fighters, too) - what capabilities does the mix give that just one won't?

Or is it hedging your bets to a) please many countries or b) should one pull support?

Military deals - especially in this area of the world - are almost always linked to other agreements. So ordering from several countries gives access to different packages. In this case, the sale of Egyptian LNG to Italy may have played a role. In other cases, e. g. Ukraine some years ago, military aid might be granted in exchange for personal favors to the president or other officials.

Political hedging against sanctions is also key, as you suspect. Having small fleets of each type can make it easier to acquire parts illegally should the need arise. It is additionally important to order whenever the opportunity comes up. You never know when the next election in the US or EU results in a government that blocks weapon sales to your country.

Another aspect is the need to keep up with their neighbours. If everybody else is buying Eurocanards and F-15s you can't just drop the ball and stick to old F-16s. It would be a political embarassment and might indicate that you're poor.

ReverseFlow wrote:

GDB wrote:

Looks like another nation might join the ranks of operating BOTH Typhoon and Rafale;
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egyp ... completing

What I've wondered with all these countries with Typhoon and Rafale (and potentially US fighters, too) - what capabilities does the mix give that just one won't?

Or is it hedging your bets to a) please many countries or b) should one pull support?

In Egypt's case it's likely a), although it's mostly hedging bets across a larger geopolitical spectrum rather than in regards to ensuring fighter support. Egypt wants to pretty much be the India of North Africa (or even the Saudi Arabia of North Africa) - with influence with pretty much everybody, from Russia and China to the West. Therefore, like with Saudi Arabia and India, they end up having to buy a bunch of redundant military equipment with often incompatible logistic lines because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It's also at least traditionally seen as a quick way to grow your air force if you don't have indigenous production.

Just announced, 20 more for Spain;
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/spain-o ... hoon-jets/

Turkey May Consider Eurofighter Typhoon if F-16 Deal Fails

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/06/ ... r-typhoon/

PS It would make sense as an interim 4.5G fighter until TF-X is inducted in numbers post 2040. I think that Rafale is out, due to Greece operating it.

art wrote:

Turkey May Consider Eurofighter Typhoon if F-16 Deal Fails

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/06/ ... r-typhoon/

That could be a deal, once he lets Finland and Sweden in NATO.

GDB wrote:

art wrote:

Turkey May Consider Eurofighter Typhoon if F-16 Deal Fails

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/06/ ... r-typhoon/

That could be a deal, once he lets Finland and Sweden in NATO.

That seems to have been arranged:

A statement from Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said: "We had a thorough meeting with president of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and prime minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson, facilitated by secretary general of NATO Jens Stoltenberg.

"As a result of that meeting, our foreign ministers signed a trilateral memorandum which confirms that Turkey will at the Madrid summit this week support the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO."

https://news.sky.com/story/nato-turkey- ... D=ref_fark

I wonder how long Turkey would spend considering Eurofighter and if it chose to order, how many would be wanted. I imagine that if it was intended to procure a substantial number, Turkey would want to assemble the aircraft itself. 5 FAL's for 1 aircraft - would that be a modern day record? Certainly beats the number of Rafale assembly lines hands down!

art wrote:

Turkey May Consider Eurofighter Typhoon if F-16 Deal Fails

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/06/ ... r-typhoon/

PS It would make sense as an interim 4.5G fighter until TF-X is inducted in numbers post 2040. I think that Rafale is out, due to Greece operating it.

Why would Turkey want F16's in the first place and not Typhoons? Afaik, Typhoons have a smaller radar signature, generally more modern avionics and are easier to maintain. Plus it would strengthen their cooperation with the important EU nations like France and Germany, with which they've been at loggerheads for quite some time now.

Spyrith wrote:

art wrote:

Turkey May Consider Eurofighter Typhoon if F-16 Deal Fails

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/06/ ... r-typhoon/

PS It would make sense as an interim 4.5G fighter until TF-X is inducted in numbers post 2040. I think that Rafale is out, due to Greece operating it.

Why would Turkey want F16's in the first place and not Typhoons? Afaik, Typhoons have a smaller radar signature, generally more modern avionics and are easier to maintain. Plus it would strengthen their cooperation with the important EU nations like France and Germany, with which they've been at loggerheads for quite some time now.

The F-16 costs much less to buy, and much less to operate. The Turks already fly the F-16 so they would not need to buy a new infrastructure (parts, weapons, training, etc).

The F-16 is (wild ass guess) 0.5x as expensive as the Typhoons, from the Turk point of view.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the material readiness of the EUROFIGHTER was further increased and maintained at this level from September 2021 to February 2022.
The availability and integration of effectors for the various roles of the EUROFIGHTER is of high importance. The same applies to the development of the new ESCAN [AESA] radar. For the ESCAN radar, the development of new certification methods regarding the use of multicore processors is required. In addition, improvements in self-protection, night vision capability, and encrypted and jam-resistant communications capability should be pursued.

The 'ESCAN' AESA radar has been delayed to December 2024, which makes it a critical path to the delivery of the first Tranche 4 aircraft in 2025. Delayed deliveries of T4 aircraft would jeopardize the timely retirement of T1 aircraft, which will reach the end of their useful life by then. Germany is planning to operate the EF until well beyond 2050.

15th report of the federal german ministry of defence (PDF) [German]