Official sources said yesterday that France will sell Egypt 120 French-German-built Alpha jet aircraft and the French-made Atar engine that can be installed in Egypt’s Soviet-made MIG jets when their original engines wear out. The deal was concluded following a visit here by Egyptian Air Force commander Vice-Marshal Mohammed Shaker Abdel-Monein.
The Egyptians have already purchased French Mirage fighter planes and are reportedly interested in setting up a plant in Egypt to assemble the Alpha jet. They are also seeking to purchase the sophisticated Mirage F-1 jets, powered by Atar engines and the Mirage III. Egypt is said to need some 200 modern combat aircraft to replace its 1973 war losses. They also want some 200 helicopters that are essential for commando operations and battlefield communications. France agreed to help Egypt rebuild its war arsenal after the visit to Cairo by President Valery Giscard d’Estaing last December.
Egypt is urgently in need of spare engines for its MIG combat planes. Since the Soviet Union has refused to supply them, Cairo is seeking the replacements from Western sources. The former commander of the Israeli Air Force, Gen. Mordechai Hod, said recently that the U.S. planned to sell Egypt J-79 engines, the same that power American Phantom jets. The U.S. State Department subsequently denied that any such sale was being considered.
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