# Human rights issues delays Egypt’s defence mega deal with Italy

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2020/06/human-rights-issues-delays-egypts-defence-mega-deal-with-italy/
- Published: 2020-06-11T14:49:55+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam

It appears that the Italy-Egypt defence mega deal has hit a brick wall as the business
is still being examined on a “technical and legal basis” by the Italian government.

The government of Italy is carrying out a political evaluation because the defence
sales are controversial in Italy due to Egypt’s human rights record, says Italian
Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio during a parliamentary briefing on 10 June.

In Egypt, various sources including Amnesty international have raised concern about
Egypt’s response to human rights issues.

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The mega deal which is reported to include two Bergamini-class fridate, _Spartaco
Schergat_ and _Emilio Bianchi_ for an estimated EUR1.2 billion (USD1.3 billion) 
was said to have been approved by the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Contea after
speaking with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Both frigates, Bergamini-class fridate, _Spartaco Schergat_ and _Emilio Bianchi_
were initially ordered for the Italian Navy and have been launched, but has not 
been commissioned yet.

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The frigate deal is believed to be part of a much larger package that includes another
[four frigates](https://www.military.africa/2020/06/human-rights-issues-delays-egypts-defence-mega-deal-with-italy/military.africa/2018/11/egyptian-navy-orders-four-meko-a-200-frigates-for-eur-2-billion-euros),
20 corvettes based on the Falaj class that Fincantieri built for the United Arab
Emirates, 24 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole jets, 24 M346 jet trainers, and a surveillance
satellite.

![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Screenshot_20200611-143708.jpg)

Italian Carlo Bergamini class frigate

The Italian Carlo Bergamini class warships were developed as a part of Franco-Italian
FREMM multi-mission frigate program. The Carlo Bergamini class bears strong resemblance
with the Horizon class, which was another joint Franco-Italian program.

The EuroFighter Typhoon is targeted for export to the Middle East region, a traditional
market for European combat aircraft. Apart from Europe, the aircraft is operated
by Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East.

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In May, Italian Leonardo [announced](https://www.military.africa/2020/06/human-rights-issues-delays-egypts-defence-mega-deal-with-italy/military.africa/2020/05/leonardo-helicopters-secures-egypts-e871-million-aw149-and-aw189-helicopter-deal)
that it has secured a contract to supply 24 AW149 and eight AW189 helicopters to
the Egyptian military for approximately EUR871 million.

In November last year, Leonardo disclosed that it has received a firm order for 
its M-346 jet trainer and combat aircraft, however, the company did not reveal the
customer or the value of the deal.

![](military.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Screenshot_20200611-143248.jpg)

Leonardo’s M-346 trainer jet and fighter attack version. (Courtesy of Leonardo)

Leonardo which is a member of the EuroFighter Consortium which builds the Typhoon
fighter jet is also aggressively marketing the M-346 to MENA customers.

“**_There is an increasing need for trainer jets in the MENA [Middle East and North
Africa] region as countries there work to expand their fighter fleets. The MENA 
nations have requirements for trainers also able to perform close‐air support missions,_**”
said Marco Buratti, Leonardo’s senior vice president of international marketing 
and strategic campaigns during an interview with _Defense News._

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