The K-8 Karakorum is a low cost, mature technology with many export successes since 1989:
Pakistan - 39
Myanmar - 12
Sri Lanka - 6
Zambia - 8
Namibia - 4
Egypt - 40 + 80 K8E (local production)
Zimbabwe - 6
The JL-15 is a more advanced trainer, but not a mature/proven platform.
Egypt is still very much stuck in the numerical superiority mindset against its neighbors. Even with the addition of F-16A/B's (48), F-16C/D's (148+), and Mirage-2000EM's (20), they still want to keep the old F-6/Mig-19's (90), F-7/Mig-21's (~500), F-4E's (32), and Mirage V's (72) flying as long as possible:
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The Egyptian and Pakistani governments reportedly agreed in November 2000 on a major bilateral defense trade agreement which involved the refurbishment of Egyptian Air Force (EAF) aircraft in Pakistan in exchange for the supply of Egyptian F-16A/B spare parts to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The deal, which had been in preparation for some time, was reportedly finalized by Pakistan Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf and senior Egyptian officials at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Doha on November 13-14, 2000. What was agreed, reportedly, included:
* The provision by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at Kamra, near Islamabad, of major overhauls and upgrades of some or all of the airframes and engines of the EAF's 13 Dassault Mirage 5 E2 tactical fighters; appr. 45 Dassault Mirage 5 SDE tactical fighters; less than 6 Dassault Mirage 5SDR tactical reconnaissance aircraft; and 5 Dassault Mirage 5 SDD operational trainers at the Mirage Rebuild Facility, which is part of PAC;
* The provision by PAC of major overhauls and upgrades of some or all of the airframes and engines of the EAF's appr. 45 Chengdu F-7B Fishbed tactical fighters at the F-6 Rebuild Facility, part of PAC. [Although called the F-6 Rebuild Facility, it undertakes major work on A-5, F-6 and F-7 types.] As well, similar work would be undertaken on some or all of the EAF's appr. 400 Mikoyan MiG-21PFS, MiG-21PFM and MiG-21MF Fishbed tactical fighters; appr. 10 Mikoyan MiG-21R Fishbed tactical reconnaissance aircraft; and appr.12 Mikoyan MiG-21UM/US Mongol operational trainers; as well as appr. 50 Shenyang F-6 Farmer tactical fighters; 5 Shenyang FT-6 Farmer operational trainers.
* The provision by Pakistan Ordnance Factories, at Wah Cantonment, near Islamabad, of a range of ordnance and munitions for the Egyptian Armed Forces;
* Other as-yet unidentified goods and services to be provided by Pakistan to the Egyptian Armed Forces;
* Provision by Egypt of spare parts for the PAF's appr. 35 F-16A/B fighters.
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One problem that the Egyptian AF has is that the primary source of military aid is from the US, so naturally the money would most likely have to be spent on US made weapons, such as the F-16. Unlike the French, the US is not likely to sell large supply of spares and munitions to Egypt.
