According to unconfirmed reports in the press, the Egyptian Navy will procure 20 AW149 helicopters produced by the Italian company Leonardo. The production contract, which has not been announced officially, was first published by La Tribune, a French news website. Leonardo has not made a statement yet.

Egypt last week announced that it was not going to purchase the NH90 helicopters of the French company NH Industries because of the cost and instead was going to award Leonardo. Egypt has procured 24 Rafale fighters, two Mistral-class LHDs (Landing Helicopter Dock) and four Gowind-class corvettes from France since 2014.