Really, the J-10 would be a long shot to say the least! Surely, it would be alittle cheaper yet it doesn’t offer any performance advantage over the F-16 and Egypt already has a very large fleet of Vipers…………Pakistan yes Egypt no………..

Countries such as Egypt seem to be more influenced by politics and finances than actual operational capabilities. They also seem to have a quantity over quality emphasis. Look at the relatively large numbers of basic F-7’s acquired in the past. These aircraft were probably not even as capable as the exisitng MiG-21MF’s but were still purchased to maintain numbers (I think local assembly also may have been involved).

Given that they still have both rust bucket MiG-21’s and F-7’s shows that they still emphasise quanitity to some degree.

If Egypt buys the FC-1, it would be a deal similar to the K-8E where the plane is assembled in Egypt.

I agree with this. The FC-1 is an export fighter. It again probably isn’t as capable as existing F-16’s but it would allow the replacement of ageing fighters as well as more substantial local industry invovlement.

Perosnally I think Egypt’s future fighter purchases could well be influenced by whatever Libya acquires.

I agree that Egypt is a potential buyer of the J-10. However it would be in significantly smaller numbers than the F-16 because Egypt would have to pay for these aircraft themselves as opposed to getting an American subsidy.

What is interesting is that Egypt still has a lot of ancient jets ranging from MiG-21’s to Mirage V’s to F-4’s, with the F-4’s apparently being in very bad condition. This will need replacement some time in the future, and I am not sure what the Egyptians would acquire.

The Euro-canards don’t seem a likely choice mainly due to acquisition costs.

I doubt the Egyptians would acquire a Russian fighter aircraft again unless there is a signinficant change in policy and alignment.

This leaves the USA and China. China is a possibility due to cost and local industry invovlement.

The USA is most probable with extensive subsidies. However the choices here are less than clear due to several factors:

1. They could acquire additional new F-16’s but if they don’t order soon there is a chance of the production line shutting down.

2. They could opt for second hand upgraded F-16’s (most likely).

3. Not sure about the F-35. Would Egypt be eligible for this aircraft?

I know. My comment was regarding the service status of the Mi-24 as they were previously mentioned.

Croatia’s Mi-24’s have been grounded for a long time now.

According to the AFM South American air forces survey, Ecuador’s Jaguars are kept in storage as an operational reserve.

Are they still only planning a measly 13 airframes?

And what will happen to the rest of the Cobras in servce? Will they soldier on or be phased out?

B-52 may be lethal but it’s also probably very costly and very time consuming to maintain.

Mind you this highlights one of the problems of democracy – inefficient usage of scarce resources.

I work for a government health bureacuracy and the amount of resources that go into operating hospitals that cater for a couple of hundred people is astronomic. At the same time we don’t have enough money for salaries or to renovate the main hospital in the state which is prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases and is generally decrepit (this is in Australia by the way).

But the couple of hundred hicks are rowdy while the city folk don’t care or unaware. When they tried to close down one of these redundant hospitals, theyre were death threats to senior management and in one case they burned the effigy of a senior manager (yes, once again this is Australia).

So low level they occassionally fly into holes! :p