France, Egypt fighter jet deal to go ahead despite concerns

France and Egypt were poised on Monday to sign a multi-billion-euro deal for the first foreign sale of the Rafale fighter jet despite human rights concerns.

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was due to travel to Cairo on Monday to sign the 5.2 billion euro ($5.9 billion) deal for 24 Rafale fighters that France hopes will prompt others to snap up its premier combat jet.

It comes as welcome news to cash-strapped France, which is even diverting three jets away from its own air force for the delivery due later this year.

French President Francois Hollande said the agreement - clinched after three months of negotiation - provided Cairo with "a quality aircraft" and was important for Egypt "taking into account the threats existing around the country".

With Libya wracked by instability to the west and the threat from Islamic State-linked militants to the east, Egypt plays a key role in providing stability in a troubled region, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Sunday.

France is also hoping the deal will act as a catalyst to unblock hoped-for sales to other countries.

Potential buyers

Eric Trappier, chief executive of Dassault Aviation, which manufactures the jet, said he was "very confident" that three years of exclusive talks with India on the sale of 126 Rafale jets worth 12 billion euros would soon result in a deal.

He said talks were slow because Delhi wants some of the jets manufactured at home in a bid to boost manufacturing, meaning that every nut and bolt had to be discussed.

France is also eyeing possible deals with Qatar and Malaysia.

"It is probable that this will have a positive impact on other prospects. ... But we have to be cautious," Fabius said.

Attempts to sell the jet to countries such as South Korea, Singapore, Morocco, Switzerland and Brazil have seen the Rafale lose out to its foreign competitors.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was elected in May 2014 with 96.91 percent of the vote a year after toppling the country's first freely elected leader, Mohammed Morsi.

A subsequent crackdown on Morsi's supporters left at least 1,400 dead and thousands more in jail.

"Just because we are selling these Rafales to Egypt doesn't mean we agree with every point in their domestic policy," Fabius said.