President Anwar Sadat has confirmed for the first time that Egypt has received highly sophisticated MIG-23 jet fighters and other weapons from the Soviet Union as well as 25 French-built Mirage jets purchased for Egypt by Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian leader made the disclosures in an interview published today in the Lebanese weekly Al Hawadith, according to reports received here.
He did not say how many of the MIG-23s Egypt has gotten but Western intelligence sources have said that the first group of six was ferried to Cairo earlier this year. The MIG-23 is reputed to be a higher flying and faster combat aircraft than any in the U.S. Air Force. The six said to have been delivered to Egypt in January, were described as part of the first Soviet arms shipments to that country since the October 1973 war.
Sadat reportedly told the Lebanese publication that the 25 Mirages obtained through Saudi Arabia were replacements for 25 Mirages loaned to Egypt by Libya a year ago and since returned at that country’s demand. Sadat also revealed that Saudi Arabia is footing the bill for aircraft factories to be built in Egypt by Britain’s Hawker Siddeley firm, manufacturer of the Hawk training aircraft and the Westland Co. which makes the Lynx helicopter.
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