Page 14 - ADT SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2021 Online Magazine

two multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft (IOC) with the US Navy in 2014. The EAF is one of the few Arab
built by Airbus. air forces with an airborne early warning as well as airborne elec-
tronic warfare capability, flying E-2C Hawkeyes, C-130H Hercules
French newspaper La Tribune says the spy sat- electronics intelligence (ELINT) aircraft and several Beech 1900
ellite and the two MRTT airplanes are part of ELINT aircraft. Egyptian authorities have also acknowledged they [ REPORT ]
a bigger deal between Cairo and Paris. Cairo have a deal with Russia for Su-35 jets but declined to comment
has also been eyeing the MRTT tanker since on its delivery schedule or cost. An order of a minimum 24 aircraft
2014, due to the lack of air refueling capabili- seems plausible given that it will constitute a squadron strength
ties within its Air Force. The number of MRTTs worth of jets.
could go up given that the Air Force is under
continuous development plans to increase in Training Needs
quantity and quality. The Egyptian Air Force, Analysts also opine that with the fleet undergoes modernisation,
the largest C295 fleet operator worldwide, has Egypt will have a requirement to replace most of their existing train-
also recently signed a five-year services con- ing aircraft, especially the ageing Grob G115EG. Grob Aircraft has
tract with Airbus for the performance-based offered the G120TP turboprop as a replacement, claiming that the
support of its fleet of a total of 24 aircraft. The new turboprop could be used to “take students all the way to the
Egyptian Air Force joins now the community of lead-in fighter training (LIFT) sector” thereby also replacing Egypt’s
C295 operators that benefit from the provision ageing fleet of 54 Tucanos, acquired in the 1980s. It could also help
of integrated and performance-based services in replacing the more than 100 K-8s now used for advanced training.
which ensure that all elements of support are The US company Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is pitching the
in place where and when required, in order to A-29 Super Tucano as a potential replacement for these aircraft,
optimize fleet availability and mission readiness. but also as a light attack aircraft. Like Grob, SNC believe that the
Since the delivery of the first aircraft in 2011, A-29 could be used to take trainee pilots through to the lead-in
Airbus has been providing support through a fighter training (LIFT) phase.
wide service portfolio with the highest quality
standards including both technical and person- Aero Vodochody, the Czech manufacturer, has also offered the
nel resources. In signing this contract, Egypt new L-39NG to meet the K-8E replacement requirement. The EAF
goes further by reaffirming and extending its used the L-39 and L-59 Albatros in the early 1990s, but the type
trust in Airbus by implementing the first inte- has long been withdrawn from use. Egypt is also evaluating the
grated support contract. Leonardo M346 Master, the Korea Aerospace Industries/Lockheed
Martin T-50 Golden Eagle and the Irkut/Rosoboronexport Yak-130.
Stephan Miegel, Head of Military Aircraft In May this year, Egypt's Minister of Defence and Military Production
Services at Airbus Defence and Space, says: Mohamed Zaki discussed military cooperation with South Korea's
“This agreement is a significant step forward Minister of Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA)
in the integrated service support that we offer Kang Eun Ho in Cairo.
our customers in the region. Our goal and com-
mitment to our customers is to maximise their
fleet availability, ensure their mission readiness, According to Egypt’s armed forces, Zaki discussed with the
all while saving maintenance costs.” South Korean delegation ways to promote military cooperation
and enhance the strategic partnership between both countries at
It appears that Egypt is currently in discussions various levels, especially cooperation with South Korean defence
with the United States to acquire Northrop companies.
Grumman’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne
early warning (AEW) aircraft. During the US
Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space confer-
ence recently, Captain Pete Arrobio with Naval
Air Systems Command (Navair) indicated that
that Egypt and Taiwan have shown interest and
are in talks to acquire the E-2D.

According to Northrop Grumman, the E-2D is
two generations ahead of previous models,
allowing it to work with sea, air and land-
based combat systems to defeat large and
small targets. Its Lockheed Martin AN/APY-9
AESA radar has an estimated range of 550 km
through 360-degree coverage and can appar-
ently identify stealthy aircraft. The Advanced
Hawkeye reached initial operational capability

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