Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Negotiations between Egypt and the United States over the potential sale of up to 46 Boeing F-15 Advanced Eagle fighter jets are continuing, more than three years after the proposal was first discussed. The deal, valued at several billion dollars, could mark a major step in Egypt’s ongoing effort to modernize its air force and shift further toward Western defense suppliers.
According to reports published on November 3, 2025, by the defense intelligence outlet Tactical Report, the discussions remain active but no final contract, production schedule, or configuration has been confirmed. U.S. approval has reportedly been granted “in principle,” yet export control reviews, political sensitivities, and human rights concerns have slowed the path toward a formal agreement.
If completed, the acquisition would see Egypt replace its canceled purchase of Russian Su-35 fighters with a modern Western platform capable of long-range missions and heavy payload operations.
From Russian Setback to Western Alignment
Cairo’s pursuit of the F-15 Eagle follows the collapse of a planned deal with Russia for Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft, which faltered amid U.S. sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and concerns about interoperability with Egypt’s largely Western-equipped fleet.
The proposed F-15 deal reflects Egypt’s broader strategy of diversifying and modernizing its aerial capabilities. The Egyptian Air Force currently operates more than 200 F-16 Fighting Falcons, 24 Dassault Rafales with additional units on order, and a mix of older Mirage 2000, Mirage 5, and MiG-29M/M2 fighters. The introduction of the F-15 would provide a new tier of capability, allowing Egypt to conduct longer-range air superiority and strike missions across the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Red Sea.
A Long-Delayed Negotiation
The first public acknowledgment of U.S. willingness to sell F-15s to Egypt came in March 2022, when General Frank McKenzie, then commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), told the Senate Armed Services Committee: “In the case of Egypt, I think we have good news in that we are going to provide them with F-15s.”
Since then, Cairo and Washington have held multiple rounds of talks. However, progress has been hindered by several factors, including Washington’s legal obligation to preserve Israel’s “Qualitative Military Edge” (QME) and congressional scrutiny over human rights issues in Egypt.
Israel has reportedly not opposed the sale, viewing it as a means of strengthening U.S.–Egypt security cooperation and maintaining regional stability under American oversight. Even so, restrictions are expected on certain technologies, such as advanced radar modes, long-range AIM-120D missiles, and electronic warfare systems.
The Advanced Eagle Option
The configuration under discussion is expected to be drawn from Boeing’s latest Advanced Eagle family, which includes the F-15SA for Saudi Arabia, F-15QA for Qatar, and F-15EX Eagle II for the U.S. Air Force. Each variant incorporates modern avionics, digital flight control, and an advanced cockpit featuring large-area displays.
The F-15EX, for instance, can carry up to 12 air-to-air missiles or a combination of guided bombs and standoff weapons, reaching speeds of Mach 2.5 and operating at altitudes above 18,000 meters. It features an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) for threat detection and countermeasures, and conformal fuel tanks that extend range while preserving weapons carriage.
For Egypt, adopting a configuration derived from this architecture would provide access to a proven airframe with significant upgrade potential and logistical compatibility with existing U.S. systems. The proposal would also include training, maintenance, and weapons packages, likely raising the total cost into the multi-billion-dollar range.
Strategic Implications
If finalized, the F-15 deal would deepen Egypt’s military relationship with Washington at a time when regional defense alignments are shifting. The acquisition would bolster Cairo’s deterrence capabilities, particularly in securing airspace over critical maritime routes such as the Suez Canal and countering transnational threats in border regions.
However, the integration of a new aircraft type into Egypt’s mixed fleet would require major investment in pilot training, ground support, and infrastructure. Establishing maintenance depots, simulators, and long-term sustainment contracts would be essential for maintaining operational readiness and availability.
A Legacy of Air Superiority
The F-15 lineage dates back to the early 1970s and has achieved more than a hundred confirmed aerial victories without a single combat loss. Evolving from the original F-15A/B air-superiority fighter to the dual-role F-15E Strike Eagle and finally to the digitally enhanced F-15EX, the aircraft remains one of the most capable multirole platforms in the world.
For Egypt, joining the F-15 operator community would represent both a technological leap and a political signal, reaffirming Cairo’s strategic partnership with Washington while positioning the Egyptian Air Force for sustained modernization into the 2030s and beyond.
Yet for now, the deal remains under negotiation. With no contract signed and export reviews still underway, the F-15’s arrival in Egyptian colors depends as much on diplomacy and policy alignment as on industrial readiness.
