I don't think you're very aware of what's happening in Egypt. Please don't be influenced by the Egyptian haters on this forum, and the anti-Sisi crowd and all that. Egypt's economy is currently booming at an unprecedented rate. There is a thread
@The SC opened (that many of us constantly update) about Egypt's economy and projects that is loaded with all the things Sisi and co. have created just in the past 3 years alone. The progress made in those 3 years was never seen during Mubarak's entire tenure.
From a combination of military budget reserves that have accumulated through the years as well as negotiated soft loans from both, France and Russia. The former is used for down-payments to credit the loans.
It's obvious what you're insinuating, but think how ridiculous that is; who in their right mind would give Egypt enough money to buy all these weapons? Not even Saudiya would do that. They might for pressing economic issues and the people and for emergency debt that needed paying off to maintain good credit ratings on loans and especially the $10 billion IMF loan which the World Bank would've never issued unless Egypt had a backup reserve. They would also give Egypt money for things that would improve Saudi/Egypt relations such as the eventual bridge/tunnel that will be built from Sinai to Saudi Arabia (amongst other joint projects), and also for the mega Suez Canal renovation to create the 2-lanes which has increased shipping traffic by 37%. Just last Saturday, the Suez Canal had 72 ships travel through both directions in 24 hours. That is a Suez Canal record thanks to that expansion project. The revenues for the canal are now on a pace to average $11 billion in earnings per year. So yes, Saudi's $10 billion was for the IMF backing plus a safety measure, but not for this level of weaponry purchase. The money that the Saudis gave Egypt also helped create a safety net for Egypt's foreign reserves which after the revolution in 2011 and halfway though Morsi's presidency was down to a mere $10 billion. It is now at $36.2 billion and rising at a rapid rate. $26 Billion rise in 3+ years and that's not even including the gas and other projects that have just begun to earn and which will be bringing in money for the years to come.
The Egyptian Mistrals, FREMM, Gowinds and Rafales were all a combination of down-payments and soft loans from the French. The same exact thing from Russia for the S-300VM, the 50 MiG-35s, 46 Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters and they've supposedly signed a tender for 30 Ka-52 Katrans and an entire self defense and navigation and coms systems for the two carriers. Not even the Saudis (and God bless them for their help) will give this much money lol.
Not sure what that would have anything to do with Egypt. Like I said, forget about the haters. I know many of you guys have this passionate hate for Egypt and much of is it the Turkish support that you feel you need to endorse, but do make an effort to at least learn what the status is, even if you wish to continue hating. Be an objective hater.
I Just explained it to you. Also, think about what
@The SC mentioned to you; what significant weapons system has Egypt bought in the past 30 years? Most of the major weapons (F-16s, M1 Abrams and all sorts of weapons were part of the peace treaty aid package since 1982) and Egypt has barely spent any money on major purchases until now because all the earnings that the military has a concrete grip on was tucked away for a very long time. Where do you suppose the current $8 billion per year that was ever spent for 30 years went? Mubarak never wanted to use any of that and tick off the US. Sisi on the other hand (and contrary to many of his haters on this very forum) has been nothing but the diplomatic genius. He's figured a way to reach out to China, Italy and most of all France and Russia while keeping his diplomacy with the US unscathed. The people who hate on this guy should really try to be a little objective and delve a bit more into what he's done, they'd be impressed beyond belief.
That was 2011. It's been 6 years since then and 3 since Morsi has been ousted and I've already explained the things that have been done in the short 3 years. Inflation is a result of floating the Egyptian pound, which was absolutely necessary, but it doesn't impact the other things I mentioned and once all the current projects that have been popping up like grass start generating income, the pound will stabilize again and inflation will drop to normal. It's already happening, albeit at a slow pace.
What antics? I just explained how his decision to devalue the pound has actually worked.
True, but here is Egypt's expected inflation rate by 2020, that's in 2 years:
Inflation Rate in Egypt is expected to be 26.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Inflation Rate in Egypt to stand at 15.20 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Egypt Inflation Rate is projected to trend around 9.50 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.
https://tradingeconomics.com/egypt/inflation-cpi/forecast
So what is that, if anything but a most positive outlook and the only way it can be that positive is because of what Sisi has done and the current and fast improving economy.
Sure there is. It's all over Egypt's and Arab news and economist programs etc and we've known about this (as Egyptians) for over 2 decades. Even with all these weapons expenditures, they built a GIGANTIC military base called the Mohammad Naguib military center with state of the art facilities, a huge theater, assembly halls, dorms, helo and armored vehicle bases and all sorts of ranges and equipment, repair facilitates and laboratories, and simulation rooms and residences and much more it's quite impressive. If you want to see pics of it, let me know and I'll guide you to the thread.
ALSO, a mega renovation of a secluded inlet dock at Ras Elteen naval base in Alexandria to dock the Mediterranean fleet in that inlet where there is no current at all, and the big carriers and corvettes can dock with complete ease. It's really incredible and that's not all. 3 more mega naval bases are currently halfway built in the north west (Marsa Matruh), in Port Said and one in along the Red Sea cost at Ras Banas which incidentally has a brand new military air base to host the southern wing which will be paroling the southern border. Much more including 2 more air bases to host the UAVs and UCAVs and this airport will actually host military aircraft from the UAE and others whom are cooperating with Egypt on several fronts. Much more that I don't need to mention, I think you get the picture. Basically close to $100 billion that no one is giving us. Not to mention the hundreds of millions they've spent on the GBUs, Hellfires, MKs and all the Wing Loong weapons they're using on Cretin Crushing alone!
True, hence why thing will only get better InshaAllah.
Sorry, hope I don't disappoint you, but no. I think I've explained everything. Oh, and there's no 5th generation yet. Just 4++ Rafales and possibly 4+ in the MiG-35s.
Actually they'll be signing a contract (if they haven't signed it already) for another 36 for a total of 72.