القوات الجوية المصري / Al-Qūwāt al-Gawwīyä al-Misrīyä

 Arab Republic of Egypt Air Force

       Credit:  Roundels of the world
Insignia                     Fin flash

PROCUREMENT / EMBARGO

Following peace initiative between Egypt and Israel beginning of 1977, Egypt looked at the USA to obtain new weapons, inclusive aircrafts.

Initial interest for the Northrop F-5E was shown when Egyptian President Anwar el Sadat visited Washington on 06-04-77 requesting the delivery of 20-24 Northrop F-5E without success, request that was renewed beginning of 1977, this time for 30-40 aircrafts.

The request was looked in a more favourable light beginning of 1978, when the US Senate voted in favour of "Middle East Fighter Package", to counterbalance the delivery of McDonnel F-15s both to Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Egyptian government obtained a letter of offer covering 42 F-5E and 8 F-5F at a total cost of USD 400m, Saudi Arabia financing the deal. Negotiations were expected to be ended by July 1978 in order that delivery of first 8 aircrafts, former Ethiopia destined, could be effected within 2 months.
Criticism came both from Israel, that protested, and Egypt. Egypt was satisfied for the delivery of combat aircrafts but felt quantity to be  insufficent and the aircraft lacking sofistication of aircrafts supplied to Israel.

First 8 F-5Es were available for delivery at Mc Clellan AFB on 02-11-78, while training of 16 pilots and 40 ground crews started beginning of 1979. Unfortunately the Tigers were withold, as payment from Saudi Arabia was not forthcoming. Price was claimed to be too high relatively to the cost of Saudi aircrafts, finacial situation aggraviated by a site survey in Egypt revealing that the estimated costs of introducing the new fighter were actually around
USD 700m.

            
            Northrop F-5E 50609/3506 at Mc Clellan AFB in October 1978                        Photo: unknown

Signature of Egyptian/Israelian peace treaty on 26-03-79 gave the death blow to the deal; Saudi Arabia cancelled the order placed on behalf of Egypt and the initial 8 aircrafts were diverted to the Yemen Arab Republic by US State Department.

As a last chance, possibility to built the F-5E was taken into consideration, negotiations going on for financial and technical aspects, with no results.
Interest for 60 the next generation Northrop F-5G was also shown, without follow-up.

Information needed:

Any additional information/correction.