# India, Egypt looks to deepen military co-operation

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2023/01/india-egypt-looks-to-deepen-military-co-operation/
- Published: 2023-01-28T10:06:15+01:00
- Author: Darek Liam

India and Egypt will seek to deepen military cooperation, including between their
defence industries, India’s foreign secretary said on Wednesday.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi in New Delhi as part of a state visit where he will meet business leaders and
be a guest of honour at India’s Jan. 26 Republic Day.

This is to further improve on an already existing tight bilateral relations. Last
September, [Indian Defense Minister Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh met with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo](https://www.military.africa/2022/10/egypt-india-signs-mou-to-enhance-military-and-security-cooperation/),
to discuss and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing military
and security cooperation between both nations.

> [Egypt, India signs MoU to enhance Military and security cooperation](https://www.military.africa/2022/10/egypt-india-signs-mou-to-enhance-military-and-security-cooperation/)

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh also met with Egypt’s President al-Sisi, where 
they discussed cooperation and focus on joint training, defence co-production, and
maintenance of equipment and also exchange expertise in countering the threat of
terrorism.

India had earlier offered to set up production facilities in Egypt for the Tejas
Mk1A, in view of the fact that Egypt is in the market for new trainer aircraft.

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The Egyptian Air force (EAF) is in the [market for a new trainer aircraft](https://www.military.africa/2021/03/egypt-in-search-of-new-trainer-aircraft)
to replace its aging fleet and to train its student pilots for the newly delivered
[Rafale fighter jet](https://www.military.africa/2017/12/egyptian-air-force-receives-three-more-dassault-rafale),
and incoming [Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet](https://www.military.africa/2020/05/russia-begins-production-of-egypts-su-35-fighter-jet).

India’s state-owned manufacturer [Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) offered its LCA-Tejas](https://www.military.africa/2022/06/india-pitchs-tejas-light-combat-aircraft-to-egypt/)
to be used as lead-in fighter training (LIFT) for Egyptian requirement for 70 LIFT
aircraft as it plans to retire Chinese-made 100 K-8E trainer aircraft.

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HAL has offered to set up a local production line and technology transfer in Egypt
for the Tejas MK1 and is also pitching its range of indigenous choppers like the
Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).

Likewise, Egypt has expressed interest in acquiring various defence equipment from
India, including the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), the Akash air defense missile
system, and the DRDO’s Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) long-range precision guided
munitions.

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