Event Summary:
- 30-31st July 2014- the United States delivered a previously delayed shipment of F- 16 multirole fighter jets to Cairo West Air Base in Egypt.
- The delivery preceded the arrival of US Secretary of State John Kerry on August 2nd for bilateral talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi especially to strengthen ties in the fight against terror outfits.
Analysis:
Egypt received an F-16 squadron shipment from the United State consisting of 8 multirole fighter jets with another 4 expected before the end of the year.
Egypt had ordered 20 Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52s in 2010 while still under president Mohamed Morsi.
The first batch of 8 arrived before the ouster of Morsi and the crackdown of Muslim Brotherhood when the US suspended the delivery of the remaining 12 among other defense items ordered pre-Morsi overthrow.
Earlier in 2015, the US lifted the arms embargo on Egypt and resumed the aid to Egypt to facilitate the war against Islamic State in the countries of the Sinai Peninsula and especially neighbors Libya.
The arrival of the consignment to Egypt happened just a few days before the arrival of US Secretary of State John Kerry in Egypt for bilateral talks to strengthen ties between the US and Egypt who hold a very key position in the Arab League.
Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 52 is a single engine multirole fighter jet that is commonly referred to as Fighting Falcon or viper by its pilots.
Fighting Falcon is designed as an all-weather fighter aircraft fitted with a frameless canopy for better visibility; its seat is reclined 30 degrees to protect the pilot from g-forces. The fighter jets have 11 locations for weapon mounting and other equipment.
Conclusion:
The Fighting Falcons delivered to Egypt due to their advanced capability to maneuver and their agility; make an invaluable addition to the fight against terrorist in the Sinai Peninsula.
Egypt and other members got into an agreement to have joint effort in the fight against the Islamic State Takfiri and the Fighting Falcon gives better precision on airstrikes.
Bilateral talks between the US and Egypt are a clear indication of the global commitment in the fight against errant Jihadist and Takfiri terrorist organizations in the Middle East and the Great Maghreb regions.
