It doesn’t matter how many tanks Egypt has or what sort they are.
They still have to cross the Sinai in a large group to matter and a few tiny neutron weapons kills their crews and makes the tanks spoils of war for Israel.
Israel won’t let them build up a tank force on the border by adding a few tanks at a time...that violates the treaty Egypt signed to regain the Sinai.
Egyptians flying F16s would be a poor match for Israelis in their F16s. They would soon become expensive debris. After a few were downed the rest would be hidden as best they could manage.
The main thing is that Egyptian brains are no match at all for Israeli brains ;-)
Aside from the “WHY” of granting a production license in the first place, nothing much new with Egyptians producing Abrams. Contracts were originally let in 1987-1988.
“Egyptian brains are no match at all for Israeli brains”...maybe so but I’ll put my money on Israeli leadership and individual WILL. Egyptians may especially lack the former but not brains. Nor individual courage.
There’s a great deal of depth to Cherokee1’s observation about Egyptian capabilities. Their Abrams may look like the real deal but they amount to a new ‘Vette with a Blue Flame Six. Their F-16’s may be a bit better though. But no matter the export system, it’s all in the option list...the bells and whistles. Israel’s home-brew version, F-16I, just might give our’s a run for the roses. Same with their F-15I...the Ra’am.
Contract Events 2007-2012....
Dec 3/12: General Dynamics Land Systems in Sterling Heights, MI receives a $37.6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification for services in support of the M1A1 co-production effort at the Egyptian Tank Plant in Cairo, Egypt. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights and Cairo, with an estimated completion date of Feb 28/15. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Warren, MI (W56HZV-09-C-0488).
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/egypt-847m-request-for-125-m1a1-tanks-03684/