It's plausible that upgrades are underway for the f-16 fleet. However, in what universe would the US give Egypt the F-35 and waive CAATSA just so that Egypt cancels the Su-35 deal (which is why the US is threatening them with CAATSA in the first place) and gets a dozen less typhoons.
In the Trump world, the luni-bin world that is. We know for a fact that the orange turd offered the F-35 in one of his fun-loving moods while meeting with Sisi but we all knew it was a bunch of horseshit. So just by the virtue of the Trump-luni-bin factor, the rest is questionable that I agree.
The bottom-line question would be why would Tactical Report, a paid-for online agency "make things up"? Now that doesn't make sense more-so than the rest of the stuff. And where is it well-known to be world famous for its BS? Could you please elaborate on that.
Sure the US would waive CAATSA and keep the numbers of the Typhoons at 24 instead of 36 because contrary to what many might think. That actually makes a huge difference and I'll tell you why: Average squadron is 12 aircraft. 24 instead of 36 means 2 squadrons instead of 3. That's one limiting factor. The typical initial order for most aircraft from almost any manufacturer and country is 24, sometimes with an option for an additional 12 ala Egypt's first batch of Rafales. Qatar's first batch also and both were given the option for the additional 12 of which only Qatar exercised. Egypt tried but was unsuccessful because France had issues with the financing aspect. In the end, they worked out an order for an additional 30 as we know of which the additional 6 is very interesting and probably has to do with ability to pay. My guess is the EAF wanted the standard 36 number of aircraft and because of cost, it got whittled down to 30.
Pakistan just bought 24 J-10Cs again because the initial number is always a 2-squadron average and it's a start for both parties.
Egypt with its F-16s block 52. The number originally was 24 haggled and razzled ended up being 20. Most manufacturers will only offer an initial number like that with the exception of Russia, and actually they usually do stick to that also because of their production line capacities and cost. Hence the MiG-29M/M2 @ 46 units and Ka-52 @ 46 as well.
We all know how much of a threat the EAF presents to the zionists and how scared shitless they are of us and always trying to knock down advanced weaponry from the EAF despite them not only having the AIM-120C, but their own garbage also.
And by allowing an "un-downgraded" Typhoon like the article suggest, that means it would be either the Tranche 3A or the latest in the 4 which is more of a reason to limit it to 2 squadrons since it would come with these deadly possibilities:
Missiles: [367]
That's another platform that would be capable of firing the Meteor on top of the Rafale. Add them together that's 54 + 24 for a total of 78 Meteor firing platforms instead of 90. I can see the Israelis soiling themselves as we speak! That's a HUUUGEAH problem for the zionist, least of all the US so another reason to knock down the numbers from 36 to 24.
Not sure if the AGM-88 or the ASRAAM would be included, or even the AIM-120 of course since Egypt is baaaaad, baaaaaad, bad bad baaaaad. But with the IRIS-T and Meteor, that's good enough to do some serious damage.
Add the other reasons I mentioned, and it all makes sense to knock down the typhoon number from 36 to 24. There's so much more to these decisions than what meets the eye, or what's only on the surface. So yeah, I do buy it.
The overall idea that dictates the US' need to maintain the QME is the zionists' constant fearmongering of Egypt attacking it, or always having the ambition to attack it and all that rubbish. Look at that old donkey Eli Dekel or whatever the frig his name is. All he does is put supposed "independent research" of the Egyptian military and come up with conclusions that it's waiting for its chance to attack Israel. Just buying its time and not just the military, he researches the Egyptian people's psyche as well.
And he's a member of the ex-Mossad Clownship Royale so do we think the actual intelligence agencies aren't looking into things on a grandeur scale? Of course they are and they have to make these determinations which lead to even the small details that we, as common, layman folk wouldn't realize could be a big deal like reducing the number of such deadly jets by only 12. But when you break it down like I just did, it does make a lot of sense, no?
As far as the details for the US waiving CAATSA? Yes, absolutely. It's not all just what the US wants. Remember, this isn't the Mubarak years and I know the typical sentiment towards Sisi as a tinpot dictator and all that crap. People forget the man has proven to be a genius with the way he's modernized the entire military in just 10 years. Add all the civilian projects and coming from a very strong military background, that adds to his clout contrary to what some might want to think, because of that brutal dictatorial label that was placed on him. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he's been front and center in these negotiations and is insisting on these certain "un-downgraded" platforms and negotiating the waiver of CAATSA since the Egyptian military's makeup is 50% +/- Russian platforms, give or take. There's a huge need to maintain Egypt's ability to keep purchasing power with Russia simply because of that factor.
I would even go as far as to say that what I would actually doubt would happen is the US upgrading the F-16s. They've been a stickler for maintaining them the way they are and the only upgrade they allowed was the block 15s & 30s to block 40s and that's it! Not even MLUs which Pakistan was able to get. A large portion of their F-16 As & Bs were upgraded to the mid-life-upgrade standard giving them primarily the ability to fire the AIM-120 of which the US had limited the supplied order to 500. Who knows if they'll get a restocking on them with the way things are going and with India cozying up to the US. They probably will, though, since they obediently and masterfully complied with the US' desire to take Imran Khan out of the loop using "legal" means to do it, ala taking a "no-confidence vote" and ousting him. And making sure he goes to prison for as long as possible. The Pakistan military knows what it's doing, and we think Egypt isn't learning from all of these backdoor deals to avoid similar things happening while also getting the most in return?
Also, it is logical that the Meteor would greatly improve Egypt's BVR capabilities. However, it would not single handedly change the regional balance of power by any means.
The article never suggested that. This is what it said:
The Meteor is considered one of the most advanced air-to-air missiles in the world and would give the EAF a significant edge over its regional rivals.
The Meteor will close the gap but will not change the equation. The prominent regionals powers are building their own A2A missiles (Python and Derby for Israel and GÖKTUĞ program series)
It most definitely will "change the equation". Are you saying it simply won't even make a single difference? If that's the case, then why have they made a HUUUGGEAH STINK about it and at the same time been crying about the AIM-120 for decades before that? lol Come on, fellas.
I know the new fad is to be critical and pessimistic and all that. I have no problem with that but we need to look at the specific details in a much broader context. Example - underestimating the effect the Meteor would have when not taking into account the decades of banning the AIM-120 AND the fact that it wouldn't just be the Meteor, but a combination of the Meteor, R-77 possibly R-77-1, ASTRA, PL-15E, AIM-7 Sparrow, MICA IR/ER then add R-73/74, ASRAAM, IRIS-T, AIM-9L/M. The Su-35SE freakout by the US and especially the zionists to the point where they publicly stated they had no objection to the EAF acquiring the F-15E Strike Eagle after 40 years of denying it was also because the Su-35SE would undoubtedly carry the phenomenally deadly R-37M. There is no way they would allow that missile to the EAF and add it to that list above? And with the Meteor? lmaaaooooo. Big picure, fellas, big picture.
Sorry the post is long, but you asked for it, Parallel! lol
