Egypt is close to a historic deal: American F-15 fighters are on the cusp of the Egyptian Air Force

[_Arabia_]

Saudi air force is very good but please do not claim there is not a manpower issue. The RSAF still relies heavily on outside contractors and deputised personnel

Not the case and have not been the case for at least 30-40 years. Only outsiders involved are trainers which is the general practice for any military not flying its own fighter jets which means 99% of all the world's militaries.

There is no shortage of manpower at all, all the military branches of KSA have almost 500.000 soldiers/manpower in total. KSA is one of the most militarized countries in the world compared to population size.

There is even talk about introducing mandatory military service in the nearby future.

No foreigners or even dual citizens are allowed to join the Saudi Arabian army.

Any way we are off-topic.

 

[RocketLaw]

Why Egypt didn't ask for latest model F-35A/B (basic model) instead of old F-15?

Seems like Arabs are not aware of the latest technologies today!

More options out there including J-35A/B+

 

[MirageV3ff]

The claim of that is what with all due respect?

KSA has one of the largest and oldest air forces in the Muslim world. There is no shortage of manpower.

KSA is rumored to get at least 48 F-35 (SA model - supposedly superior to the standard like our F-15SA which are superior to the standard version) when MbS visits the White House in 9 days time.

Respectfully I doubt that Saudi Arabia is gonna get F-35s anytime soon especially when NATO is having a hard time getting their jets in time. and you talk about a "superior version", Block 4 had to be delayed again and scaled back so I'm not exactly sure what "superior version" you guys would be getting here. You'd be lucky to get an F-35s at all atp

 

[Yasser76]

Not the case and have not been the case for at least 30-40 years. Only outsiders involved are trainers which is the general practice for any military not flying its own fighter jets which means 99% of all the world's militaries.

There is no shortage of manpower at all, all the military branches of KSA have almost 500.000 soldiers/manpower in total. KSA is one of the most militarized countries in the world compared to population size.

There is even talk about introducing mandatory military service in the nearby future.

No foreigners or even dual citizens are allowed to join the Saudi Arabian army.

Any way we are off-topic.

You know you just contradicted yourself in this post right?

"There is no shortage of manpower at all"

followed by

"There is even talk about introducing mandatory military service"

 

[_Arabia_]

Respectfully I doubt that Saudi Arabia is gonna get F-35s anytime soon especially when NATO is having a hard time getting their jets in time. and you talk about a "superior version", Block 4 had to be delayed again and scaled back so I'm not exactly sure what "superior version" you guys would be getting here. You'd be lucky to get an F-35s at all atp

I am solely repeating widespread rumors in the media that have been circulating for the past 10 days. Pentagon has apparently already cleared the sale of F-35 to KSA. Lockheed Martin just opened their regional headquarters in KSA. We will have to see when MbS visits Abu Ivanka as I wrote.

Yes, a superior version to the standard model, like the F-15SA version and many other Saudi Arabian specific versions of US systems.

Same was said before KSA got the AWACS, THAAD (!), Patriots, F-15 back in the day etc.

The only thing stopping this deal is the Jewish lobby but the US should be smarter than that.

You know you just contradicted yourself in this post right?

"There is no shortage of manpower at all"

followed by

"There is even talk about introducing mandatory military service"

That has nothing to do with shortage of manpower (all army branches when SANG is included is around 500.000 - far, far more than countries with a comparable population size as KSA) and there is no contradiction there.

It was in relation to KSA being one of the most militarized countries out there compared to population size (a fact) and introducing mandatory military service points to that as well.

Does Turkey lack manpower even though they have mandatory military service?

 

[_Arabia_]

Why Egypt didn't ask for latest model F-35A/B (basic model) instead of old F-15?

Seems like Arabs are not aware of the latest technologies today!

More options out there including J-35A/B+

The US would not sell Egypt the F-35 as I wrote (see post 47) as of today nor is China going to sell the Shenyang J-35 without the collective West/Israel making a huge fuss.

Any way the Chinese are yet to export the Shenyang J-35 to any outsiders. Only rumors have been Pakistan and Russia (!) but no official confirmation.

 

[MirageV3ff]

Why Egypt didn't ask for latest model F-35A/B (basic model) instead of old F-15?

Seems like Arabs are not aware of the latest technologies today!

More options out there including J-35A/B+

Weapons purchases aren't just about buying a weapon, there is also a political factor to it, like domestic lobbying (and with how infiltrated Egyptian leadership is with foreign spies and traitors) so even if someone within Egypt lobbies for Chinese weapons, you'll have greater opponents to that proposition

That being said this F-15 deal is linked to the cancelled Su-35 deal. Egypt at the time was pressured into cancelling the deal after Russia started to invade ukraine and the yanks then "promised" to give em F-1s as a concession

 

[Yasser76]

I am solely repeating widespread rumors in the media that have been circulating for the past 10 days. Pentagon has apparently already cleared the sale of F-35 to KSA. Lockheed Martin just opened their regional headquarters in KSA. We will have to see when MbS visits Abu Ivanka as I wrote.

Yes, a superior version to the standard model, like the F-15SA version and many other Saudi Arabian specific versions of US systems.

Same was said before KSA got the AWACS, THAAD (!), Patriots, F-15 back in the day etc.

The only thing stopping this deal is the Jewish lobby but the US should be smarter than that.


That has nothing to do with shortage of manpower (all army branches when SANG is included is around 500.000 - far, far more than countries with a comparable population size as KSA) and there is no contradiction there.

It was in relation to KSA being one of the most militarized countries out there compared to population size (a fact) and introducing mandatory military service points to that as well.

Does Turkey lack manpower even though they have mandatory military service?

You are making no sense. A quick look at Linkedin will show you the number of foreigners (Mostly westerners and Pakistanis) within Saudi military. You stating that is not the case is not recognising facts.

Security for survival: Inside Pakistan’s military deployments across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE

Pakistan’s deep-rooted military deployments in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE reveal how defense secondments underpin Gulf security and Pakistan’s economic strateg

www.pgurus.com

 

[_Arabia_]

You are making no sense. A quick look at Linkedin will show you the number of foreigners (Mostly westerners and Pakistanis) within Saudi military. You stating that is not the case is not recognising facts.

Security for survival: Inside Pakistan’s military deployments across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE

Pakistan’s deep-rooted military deployments in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE reveal how defense secondments underpin Gulf security and Pakistan’s economic strateg

www.pgurus.com

There are no foreigners serving in the Saudi Arabian military because it is simply against the law.

No foreigners anywhere in the Saudi Arabian military other than trainers (which is completely normal everywhere) and consultants.

Find me a single Linkedin profile of a non-Saudi Arabian individual that is serving (!) in the Saudi Arabian military in any official capacity or position other than advisor/consultant/trainer.

Go ahead.

Your link does not prove any of your points it talks about the small/tiny Pakistani military deployment (Pakistani soldiers, not KSA soldiers) which are based in KSA as advisers/trainers/consultants (which your article also confirms), UNDER the command of KSA, but they are not serving in the KSA military.

Just like NATO deployment of troops to the Baltics, Poland, Turkey etc. does not make those soldiers a part of the native militaries in those countries/regions.

 

[Fatman17]

Saudi Arabia provides financial support to Egypt through various means, shifting from direct aid and grants to a greater focus on investments and conditional loans. Recent examples include a $5 billion investment initiative announced in 2024, which signaled a move towards supporting Egypt's privatization efforts and reforms. Older support includes significant deposits into Egypt's central bank in 2022 and specific project loans and grants through organizations like the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).

Recent support

• Investment initiative: In 2024, Saudi Arabia directed its sovereign wealth fund to invest an initial $5 billion into Egypt, which is seen as a signal of continued economic partnership and support for Egypt's privatization program.
• Conditional support: Saudi Arabia has stated it will no longer provide "free handouts" and will focus on funding reforms, moving towards investment and conditional support rather than direct aid.

Past and project-specific support

• Central bank deposits: In April 2022, Saudi Arabia deposited $5 billion into Egypt's central bank to help stabilize the economy amidst rising food prices. This was in addition to a previous deposit of $3 billion and the extension of a $2.3 billion loan.
• Saudi Fund for Development (SFD): The SFD has provided specific loans and grants for development projects, such as:
  • A $1.5 billion concessional loan and a $200 million grant to improve infrastructure in Sinai.
  • A $120 million loan to renovate Kasr El-Aini Hospital in Cairo.
  • A $100 million loan for the expansion of the West Cairo power station.

 

[SoulSpokesman]

Against whom will they use these birds?

Regards

 

[Yasser76]

There are no foreigners serving in the Saudi Arabian military because it is simply against the law.

No foreigners anywhere in the Saudi Arabian military other than trainers (which is completely normal everywhere) and consultants.

Find me a single Linkedin profile of a non-Saudi Arabian individual that is serving (!) in the Saudi Arabian military in any official capacity or position other than advisor/consultant/trainer.

Go ahead.

Your link does not prove any of your points it talks about the small/tiny Pakistani military deployment (Pakistani soldiers, not KSA soldiers) which are based in KSA as advisers/trainers/consultants (which your article also confirms), UNDER the command of KSA, but they are not serving in the KSA military.

Just like NATO deployment of troops to the Baltics, Poland, Turkey etc. does not make those soldiers a part of the native militaries in those countries/regions.

Again, they do not have to serve in the Saudi forces if they are contractors and Saudi relies heavily on contractors in it's military. Really weird you are getting so worked up over something that has been an established fact for many years.

Pakistan and Turkiye have ZERO foreign contractors in military functions

 

[_Arabia_]

Saudi Arabia provides financial support to Egypt through various means, shifting from direct aid and grants to a greater focus on investments and conditional loans. Recent examples include a $5 billion investment initiative announced in 2024, which signaled a move towards supporting Egypt's privatization efforts and reforms. Older support includes significant deposits into Egypt's central bank in 2022 and specific project loans and grants through organizations like the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).

Recent support

• Investment initiative: In 2024, Saudi Arabia directed its sovereign wealth fund to invest an initial $5 billion into Egypt, which is seen as a signal of continued economic partnership and support for Egypt's privatization program.
• Conditional support: Saudi Arabia has stated it will no longer provide "free handouts" and will focus on funding reforms, moving towards investment and conditional support rather than direct aid.

Past and project-specific support

• Central bank deposits: In April 2022, Saudi Arabia deposited $5 billion into Egypt's central bank to help stabilize the economy amidst rising food prices. This was in addition to a previous deposit of $3 billion and the extension of a $2.3 billion loan.
• Saudi Fund for Development (SFD):The SFD has provided specific loans and grants for development projects, such as:
  • A $1.5 billion concessional loan and a $200 million grant to improve infrastructure in Sinai.
  • A $120 million loan to renovate Kasr El-Aini Hospital in Cairo.
  • A $100 million loan for the expansion of the West Cairo power station.

Thank you for proving your initial claim wrong yourself.
Investments in Egypt projects/economy is COMPLETELY different from claiming that KSA is giving 5 billion USD (fake news) for free (LOL) annually to the "Al-Sisi dictatorship" (your words). Talk about twisting the reality.

Again, they do not have to serve in the Saudi forces if they are contractors and Saudi relies heavily on contractors in it's military. Really weird you are getting so worked up over something that has been an established fact for many years.

Pakistan and Turkiye have ZERO foreign contractors in military functions

No, we do not. We have almost 500.000 serving soldiers in all branches of the KSA military if SANG is included.

You are making up empty claims as facts. This does not work like that. A few 100 advisers/consultants/trainers (which are being faced out anyway - numbers decreasing each year) is not evidence of any "dependence" whatsoever.

Pakistan has had a small contingent of soldiers under KSA command since the First Gulf War. They are just that, mostly ordinary soldiers. As a sign of support from the Pakistani government. Not out of necessity because none of those soldiers are actively serving in the KSA military or engaged in any conflicts that KSA was engaged in. Case in point the Yemeni civil war. Other than consultants/trainers/advisors as I wrote.

Anyway this thread is about Egypt, so I am ending it here.

There are 1000's of NATO troops within Turkey serving the same function as in KSA. No difference. Trainees/consultants included.

The Pakistani Air Force was set up by a Pole. You had your share of Western support/advisors/trainees as well.

 

[Fatman17]

Thank you for proving your initial claim wrong yourself.
Investments in Egypt projects/economy is COMPLETELY different from claiming that KSA is giving 5 billion USD (fake news) for free (LOL) annually to the "Al-Sisi dictatorship" (your words). Talk about twisting the reality.

Relax and enjoy the show

 

[RocketLaw]

Please just chill, we have to respect Arab's perspective and our own different perspective. In the end of the day, Arabs made their decisions on their requirements, just leave as it is.