Eight F-16 fighter jets will take to Cairo’s skies on Friday in a display celebrating their arrival from the United States.
Eight F-16 fighter jets will take to Cairo’s skies on Friday in a display celebrating their arrival from the United States.
The flyover is scheduled from 16.00 to 16.30 CLT (GMT+2), as reported.
The US embassy in Cairo issued a statement on Thursday saying that the delivery of the aircraft on Thursday and Friday comes as part of the US’s ongoing support to the country, which includes $1.3 billion in aid this year.
The aircraft “provide a valuable capability that is needed during these times of regional instability” said Major General Charles Hooper, a senior defense official at the US embassy who was quoted in the statement.
“Extremists threaten regional security and these weapon systems provide a new tool to help Egypt fight terrorism,” he added.
The eight jets, which were flown to Egypt from Texas, will be integrated into Egypt’s air force once they arrive.
Four more are scheduled to be delivered this autumn, according to the statement.
Earlier in July, Egypt received three Rafale jet fighters from France in a ceremony at a French military base, the first batch of 24 warplanes acquired by Cairo in a 5.2 billion euro ($5.6 billion) deal in February.
They also flew over Cairo in a show to celebrate their delivery.
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