Indian media "Eurasia Times" reported on the 28th, the content of an article titled "India plans to set up an LCA fighter jet and helicopter production line in Egypt, and India aims to sign an international contract for the first time." India believes: "India is seeking export potential in the Middle East and North Africa. India has proposed a plan to produce LCA light fighters and helicopters in Egypt and deliver production lines to Egypt." "After holding several high-level meetings with the country, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force plans to visit India in a few days. During this visit, a surprise inspection of India's production of fighter jets and maintenance of fighter aircraft capabilities will be carried out." "In order to participate Cairo Air Force School Tactical Leadership Program, A 57-member delegation of the Indian Air Force is currently visiting Egypt. At the same time, the Indian Air Force also sent three Su-30MKI and two C-17 transport aircraft to arrive in Egypt for exercises, as well. Part of the Indian Air Force delegation.”
India still wants to export LCA to Egypt?
India believes: "The Egyptian Air Force needs nearly 70 light fighters, mainly focusing on domestic manufacturing and technology transfer in Egypt. Egypt has always been interested in establishing aviation manufacturing facilities. The Egyptian Air Force now has F-16 fighter jets from the United States, France A mixed fleet of Rafale fighter jets and Russian MiG-29 fighter jets.” India believes that Indian LCA fighter jets have a chance to win these 70 orders!
The Egyptian Air Force is also equipped with the J-7
Indian military manufacturers are promoting domestic helicopters in India, including India's domestic advanced light helicopter (ALH) and light combat helicopter (LCH), as well as the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA). India plans to LCA Mk-1A fighter jet provided by the Egyptian Air Force.
India proposes to jointly establish production facilities in Egypt itself. According to an Indian military industry source: "There is a huge demand for such aircraft in the Middle East and NATO regions, and Egypt will become an ideal production base." The Indian Air Force ordered 83 Mk-1A fighter jets, resulting in economies of scale, making the production price of Indian LCA fighter jets approximately US$42 million per aircraft. According to India: "India has become the leader in Malaysia's demand for light fighter aircraft. A package agreement signed by India and the Malaysian Air Force is under discussion", "which includes India's Su-30 fighter jets for the Malaysian Air Force. Maintenance and spare parts for , these fighter jets are from Russia."
Indian and Egyptian Air Force pilots train together
"The Indian Air Force delegation is currently in Egypt to participate in the Egyptian Air Force Weapons School's Tactical Leadership Program, the Indian Air Force has demonstrated to Egypt, the Indian Aviation Enterprise , Su-30MKI fighter jets manufactured by Hindustan Corporation in India, and the ability of Indian aviation companies to localize spare parts and components,” the Indian side said. Currently, India is seeking export deals and plans to make an offer to display LCA fighter jets to Egypt.
However, the Egyptian Air Force is currently inspecting a new batch of fighter jets. This is mainly due to pressure from the United States. After weighing, the Egyptian military and government officials decided to abandon the purchase of Russian-made Su-35S fighters and are inspecting the F-15EX. fighter plane. At present, the 16 Su-35 fighter jets manufactured by Russia for the Egyptian Air Force have been completed, but the Egyptian Air Force does not want them anymore! Even the aircraft's paint has been painted with Egyptian paint, and it can only be parked on the tarmac of the Gagarin Aviation Factory in Komsomolsk, Amur.
The Su-35 that is unsold at the airport is already painted by the Egyptian Air Force. At this time, India announced that it "will export a batch of LCA fighters to the Egyptian Air Force." In this way, India can sell LCA fighter jets to the Egyptian Air Force. Not only are Russia's Su-35 fighter jets not unsalable, they are said to have been exported to and Iran . Earlier, India believed that it could win orders from Iran. According to Indian assumptions, the Iranian Air Force will be able to purchase 400 LCA fighter jets. As a result, Iran supported no procurement, and even the Iranian Air Force delegation did not go to India for inspection. After all, Iran knew that the Indian LCA fighter jet is known as "domestic". In fact, 40% of the parts of the LCA fighter jet are not from India, especially the engine, which is American F -404 engine.
Indian LCA fighter jets purchase and use a large number of Western avionics, radars and , including the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel and other countries. It is basically impossible to export to Iran. A Martin Baker ejection seat will be stuck by the British! The same problem that Iran faces, the Egyptian Air Force must also understand: purchasing Indian LCA fighter jets will cost the Egyptian Air Force too much. Therefore, Egypt may continue to purchase French Rafale fighter jets, and it is not ruled out that the Egyptian Air Force purchases J-10CE fighter jets from China. After all, what the Egyptian Air Force needs is a multi-purpose fighter .
LCA’s neck is stuck in the hands of Americans
In 2018, Egypt repeatedly proposed to purchase F-15EX fighter jets from the United States. After being ignored by the United States, Egypt turned around and purchased 26 Su-35S fighter jets from Russia for US$2 billion. Just after Russia built 16 Su-35 fighters, the Egyptian Air Force did not dare to ask for them! Egypt, once a major military power in the Arab world, has been constantly pursuing powerful combat forces. Egypt, which lacks the ability to develop and produce fighter jets of its own, can only purchase all weapons and equipment from abroad to develop Egypt's own armed military forces.
India is promoting LCA fighter jets all over the world. This is indeed worthy of praise. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, let’s talk about it first. Earlier, India's LCA fighter jets had to squeeze out orders from China and Brazil's JF-17 Xiaolong fighter jets from the Argentine Air Force. India even deliberately lowered the price of LCA fighter jets. India even deliberately spread rumors: "The Argentine Air Force requires the price of JF-17 Xiaolong fighter jets to be reduced, otherwise it will buy LCA fighter jets."
Egyptian Air Force livery of Xiaolong (imagined picture)
Actual This is impossible. The reason can be referred to the previous failure of South Korea to export the FA-50 combat trainer aircraft. Six main components of the FA-50 combat trainer aircraft are made in the UK, especially the Martin Baker ejection seat. At least three parts of the Indian LCA fighter are from the UK, including the radome, aerial refueling device and ejection seat. Therefore, it is basically impossible to export the LCA to Argentina . Argentina can only consider Russian and Chinese fighter jets.
Egypt has produced K-8
and it is impossible for India's LCA fighter jets to agree to export production lines to Egypt. Our own LCA fighter jet production lines are not well developed. How can we assist the Egyptian Air Force? The best choice for the Egyptian Air Force is China: with the help of China and Egypt's experience in jointly manufacturing the K-8 trainer aircraft and exporting the Chinese K-8 trainer aircraft to Egypt, China can provide comprehensive support to the Egyptian Air Force for ground and air training personnel. China can also establish a comprehensive maintenance, repair and overhaul center for "Fierce Dragon" fighter jets and J-10CE fighter jets in Egypt to ensure higher utilization. At the same time, we will develop the Egyptian aviation industry and save Egypt's aviation manufacturing industry, which has completely declined. And Egypt was the first Arab country to develop jet fighters in the 1960s!
