France could sell Egypt two military surveillance and communication satellites in 2016 worth 1 billion euros, French newspaper La Tribune has reported .
Reports of Egypt’s request for the French satellites emerged in 2015, but no material steps were taken to finalize it since then.
According to La Tribune, the deal will be part of other defense sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and India, making up a total of 10 sale contracts involving 96 Rafale jets to India and the UAE and two satellites to Saudi Arabia. The total value of the deals, according to the newspaper’s reports, stands at a minimum of 19 billion euros.
Egypt has already purchased two Mistral carriers worth 950 million euros, 24 Rafale fighter jets worth 5.2 billion euros and a one billion euro FREMM frigate.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
