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Egypt expresses interest in defence collaboration with Pakistan
March 19, 2024
(R) Egyptian President Abdel Fatteh el-Sisi and (L) Pakistan Minister of Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain. Photo credit: Associated Press of Pakistan

Egypt expresses interest in defence collaboration with Pakistan

On his official visit to Egypt, Pakistan’s Minister of Defence Production (MoDP) Rana Tanveer Hussain met with Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and was informed that Cairo was interested in collaborating with Pakistan in defence production initiatives (Associated Press of Pakistan).

The state-owned news agency Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) notes that the meeting called “for collaboration in joint production of certain defence equipment … to [establish] expert level delegations to work out modalities for further cooperation.”

APP added that Egypt is also interested in the JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter, which is co-produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC).

Notes & Comments:

Egypt had expressed apparent interest in the JF-17 in earlier years, but efforts to secure in that direction did not pan out. It is unclear if Cairo’s apparent interest at this stage is concrete enough for a sale, but it is likely that PAC and CAIG will pursue the opportunity considering its potential in generating value and attention towards the fighter platform. Egypt could be contemplating the JF-17 on the grounds of securing a low-cost and openly configurable platform, one that it can support domestically (via various transfer-of-technology elements) and freely arm in terms of modern air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions.