Egyptian Air Force.html

Egyptian Air Force القوات الجوية المصرية

Founded	1930 (as part of the army) 1937 (as an independent service)
Country	Egypt
Branch	Egyptian armed forces
Type	Air Force
Size	569 aircraft 149 armed helicopters 30,000 Personnel (10,000 conscripts)¹
Garrison/HQ	Oruba street, Nasr City, Cairo
Motto	'Higher and higher for the sake of glory' (Arabic: إلى العلا في سبيل المجد‎, I‘la’ al-a‘là fī sabīl al-magd)
Anniversaries	14th of October (Mansura Air Battle)²
Engagements	see History
Commanders
Commander	Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed
Chief of Staff	Air Vice Marshal Shaker F Ahmad
Notable commanders	Hosni Mubarak Ahmed Shafik
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Aero L-59 Super Albatros, SU-7B
Bomber	McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Tupolev Tu-16
Electronic warfare	Teledyne Ryan Scarab
Fighter	F-16, MiG-21
Attack helicopter	AH-64 Apache
Interceptor	Mirage 2000, Chengdu J-7
Patrol	Antonov An-24, Aérospatiale Gazelle, Ilyushin Il-28
Reconnaissance	Dassault Mirage 5, Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
Trainer	EMB 312, Dassault Mirage 5, Aero L-39, Grob G-115
Transport	C-130 Hercules, Antonov An-74

The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF (Arabic: القوات الجوية المصرية‎, Al-Qūwāt al-Gawwīyä al-Miṣrīyä), is the aviation branch of the Egyptian armed forces. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal (Lieutenant General equivalent). Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed. The force's motto is 'Higher and higher for the sake of glory' (Arabic: إلى العلا في سبيل المجد‎, I‘la’ al-a‘là fī sabīl al-magd). Currently the EAF has over 567 combat aircraft and 149 armed helicopters, making it the largest in both Africa and the Middle East. It is currently the strongest and most developed in Africa. The EAF is one of the strongest in the Middle East. The backbone of the Egyptian Air Force is 220 F-16 Fighter Jets and it is the 4th largest operator of F-16's in the world. ³

History

Establishment

First three Egyptian pilots

In late 1928, the Parliament of Egypt proposed the creation of an Egyptian Air Force. The Egyptian ministry of war announced that it needed volunteers for the new arm to become the first four Egyptian military pilots. Over 200 Egyptian officers volunteered, but in the end only three succeeded in passing strict medical tests and technical examinations.

These three went to RAF number 4 Flying Training School at Abu Suwayer near the Suez Canal, where they were trained on a variety of aircraft. After graduation they travelled to England for specialized training.

On November 2, 1930 King Fuad announced the creation of the Egyptian Army Air Force (EAAF) and in September 1931, the British De Havilland aircraft company won a contract to supply Egypt with 10 De Havilland Gipsy Moth trainers.

Egyptian Air Force Insignia (1937-1958)

The first commander of the EAAF was a Canadian squadron leader, Victor Hubert Tait. Tait selected staff and weapons and built air-bases. In 1934 the British government provided 10 Avro 626 aircraft, which were the first real Egyptian military planes. A further 17 626s together with Hawker Audaxes for army cooperation and close support and Avro Ansons for VIP work followed shortly afterwards.

Royal Egyptian Air Force ensign

In 1937 the Egyptian Army Air Force was separated from the army command and became an independent branch named the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF). New bases were built in the Suez canal region and the western desert.

In 1938 the REAF received 2 squadrons of Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters and a squadron of then modern Westland Lysander reconnaissance aircraft, (Egypt was the last nation to use the Lysander in action, during the 1948 Arab campaign against Israel).

World War II

Main article: World War II

As the Egyptian border was threatened by an Italian and German invasion, the Royal Air Force established more bases in Egypt during World War II. The Egyptian Air Force was sometimes treated as a part of the Royal Air Force, at other times a strict policy of neutrality was followed. As a result of this vacillation, few additional aircraft were supplied by Britain, however the arm did receive its first modern fighters, Hawker Hurricanes and a small number of Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks. In the immediate post war period, cheap war surplus aircraft, including a large number of Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXs were acquired. The REAF also bought Macchi MC205V fighters and trainers from Italy.

The 1948 War

Main article: 1948 Arab-Israeli War

Following the British withdrawal from Palestine and the founding of Israel on 14 May 1948, as part of its commitment to the Arab League Egypt declared war nascent Israeli state. The Egyptian Air Force contributed to this conflict with C-47 Dakotas performing as light bombers and Spitfires and managed to shoot down two Israeli aircraft. it is unknown whether Egyptian air force Spitfires attacked Royal Air Force Spitfires, which the Egyptian government incorrectly believed were to be handed over to Israel. The first raid surprised the Royal Air Force, and resulted in the destruction of several RAF aircraft on the ground and the death of an airman. The British were uncertain whether the attacking Spitfires had come from Arab or Israeli forces. When a second raid followed shortly afterwards it met a well prepared response, and the entire Egyptian force was shot down - the last aircraft being baited for some time as the RAF pilots attempted to get a close look at its markings. This was the only occasion Spitfires fought each other.

Relations with Britain were soon restored, although poor relations with Israel ensured that arms purchases continued. New Mk22 Spitfires were purchased to replace the earlier models. In late 1949 Egypt received its first jet fighter, it was the British Gloster Meteor F4 and shortly after De Havilland Vampire FB5s. However the policy of the Nasser government lead to Egypt also acquiring aircraft from the Eastern Block.

The first Soviet aircraft arrived in Egypt in 1955. Initial deliveries included MiG-15 fighters, Ilyushin Il-28 bombers, Il-14 transports, and Yak-11 trainers. Instructors from Czechoslovakia accompanied these aircraft. This period in Egypt's air force history also yielded the first indigenous aircraft production as the country began manufacturing its own Czech-designed Gomhouria Bü 181 Bestmann primary trainers.

The Suez Crisis

Main article: Suez Crisis

After Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Canal in 1956, Egypt was attacked by Israel, France, and the United Kingdom in what came to be known as the Suez Crisis. Heavy losses were sustained by the Egyptian side. The conflict, though devastating militarily, turned out to be a political victory for Egypt and resulted in the total withdrawal of the aggressor forces from the country. It also forced the EAF to begin rebuilding its Air Force with non-British help.

Soon after the war, Egypt formed a political union with Syria and Yemen and the Egyptian Air Force became known as the United Arab Republic Air Force.

By the mid-1960s, British aircraft were replaced completely by Soviet hardware. The Soviet Union became the principal supplier of the EAF and many other Arab states. This allowed the EAF to greatly modernize and boost its combat effectiveness. The MiG-21 Fishbed arrived in the early 1960s, bringing with it a Mach 2 capability. The MiG-21 would remain Egypt's primary fighter for the next two decades. In 1967, Egypt had 200 MiG-21s. The air force also began flying the Sukhoi Su-7 fighter/bomber in the mid-1960s.

Egypt also produced Helwan HA-300 its first supersonic aircraft.

The Yemen War

Main article: North Yemen Civil War

The Royalist side received support from Saudi Arabia, while the Republicans were supported by Egypt and the Soviet Union. The fighting was fierce, featuring heavy urban combat as well as battles in the countryside. Both foreign irregular and conventional forces were also involved. Strategically, the Yemen War was an opportunity for Israel. It stagnated Egyptian military plans for the reinforcement of the Sinai by shifting the Egyptian military focus to another theater of operation. Egyptian historian Mohammed Heikal writes that Israel provided arms shipments and also cultivated relationships with hundreds of European mercenaries fighting for the royalists in Yemen. Israel established a covert air-supply bridge from Djibouti to North Yemen. The war also gave Israelis the opportunity to assess Egyptian combat tactics and adaptability.

Within three months of sending troops to Yemen, Nasser realized that this would require a larger commitment than anticipated. By early 1963, he would begin a four-year quest to extricate Egyptian forces from Yemen, using an unsuccessful face-saving mechanism, only to find himself committing more troops. A little less than 5,000 troops were sent in October 1962. Two months later, Egypt had 15,000 regular troops deployed. By late 1963, the number was increased to 36,000; and in late 1964, the number rose to 50,000 Egyptian troops in Yemen. Late 1965 represented the high-water mark of Egyptian troop commitment in Yemen at 55,000 troops, which were broken into 13 infantry regiments of one artillery division, one tank division and several Special Forces as well as paratroop regiments.

All the Egyptian field commanders complained of a total lack of topographical maps causing a real problem in the first months of the war.

Egyptian air and naval forces began bombing and shelling raids in the Saudi southwestern city of Najran and the coastal town of Jizan, which were staging points for royalist forces. In response, the Saudis purchased a British Thunderbird air defense system and developed their airfield in Khamis Mushayt. Riyadh also attempted to convince Washington to respond on its behalf. President Kennedy sent only a wing of jet fighters and bombers to Dhahran Airbase, demonstrating to Nasser the seriousness of American commitment to defending U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia.

The Six-Day War

Main article: Six-Day War

In the 1967 Six-Day War the EAF's combat capacity was severely damaged after Israel's air force destroyed its airbases in a sudden attack against Egypt (Operation Focus]]). Despite great losses, over the last four days the EAF did manage to make 150 sorties against Israeli units throughout the Sinai⁴ Subsequently, the Soviets again sent a large number of aircraft and trainers to Egypt in order to help revitalize the EAF.

The War of Attrition

Main article: War of Attrition

Following the 1967 defeat, Egypt carried out a prolonged campaign of attrition against Israel. The Egyptian Air Force applied the lessons it learnt earlier from the Israelis. A 32-year-old deputy MiG-21 regiment commander who has been flying since he was 15 recalls: "During the war of attrition, the Israeli air force had a favorite ambush tactic", he told Aviation Week and Space Technology. "They would penetrate with two aircraft at medium altitude where they would be quickly picked up by radar, We would scramble four or eight to attack them. But they had another dozen fighters trailing at extremely low altitude below radar coverage. As we climbed to the attack they would zoom up behind and surprise us. My regiment lost MiGs to this ambush tactic three times. But we learned the lesson and practiced the same tactics. In the final fights over Deversoir, we ambushed some Mirages the same way, and my own 'finger four' formation shot down four Mirages with the loss of one MiG."

Yet the EAF couldn't regain its lost capability due to reconstitution following the 1967 debacle. With so many inexperienced pilots having to be exposed to combat, many were shot down while the surviors brought back valuable experience. Several EAF pilots scored victories against the IAF during this period.

October War 1973

Main article: Yom Kippur War

The EAF was involved in the initial offensive with over 220 aircraft (including the MiG-21MF) taking part in the surprise attack. Unlike their Syrian counterparts, EAF aircraft evaded Israeli radars by flying below detection range. Their attacks largely went undetected and the IAF responded belatedly but flew right into the teeth of the EAF air defence umbrella.

EAF aircraft were held in reserve after that point, mainly concentrating on air defence of air fields in conjunction with the Sa-3 'Pechora' while the more mobile Sa-6 'Gainful' protected Egyptian forces at low and medium level aided by the ZSU-23-4SP and shoulder-held SA-7 SAMs.

Despite these limitations, the EAF conducted offensive sorties from time to time with the Tu-16 firing AS-5 'Kent' stand off weapons causing considerable panic behind Israeli lines. The Su-7BM was used for quick strafe attacks on Israeli columns and the Mirage IIIE (sometimes confused with the Mirage 5) donated by Libya carried out long-range attacks deep inside Sinai at Bir Gifgafa.

However, when Israeli armoured forces crossed in a gape between the two Egyptian armies into 'Africa' (West of the Suez canal) and in the process destroying Egyptian SAM sites on the East Bank the EAF was forced into battle against the far weaponry-superior IAF. The EAF scored victories and continued to contest IAF operations, while also launching attacks on Israeli ground forces in the East Bank of the Suez Canal. In most of the engagements, Egyptian MiG-21s (of all types) challenged (mainly) Israeli Mirage IIICJ/Nesher.

The IAF did not operate freely and did not have the air supremacy like the previous conflict, the 1967 war. Egyptian MiGs were used with their better maneuverability that most IAF air crafts in that war to conduct new tactics and lessons learned from the 1967 war.

El-Mansourah air battle

In El-Mansourah air battle, the EAF achieved an overwhelmingly high kill ratio against the IAF which, in an Operation Moked-styl attack, tried to regain air supremacy by destroying the core center of the airfields net in the delta to enable it to attack the Egyptian ground forces. The IAF lost more than three times the loses of the EAF in that battle, affirming Egyptian air supremacy.

During the Yom Kippur War, in the "El-Mansoura air battle", Israel launched a large scale raid with over 100 aircraft – F-4 Phantoms and A-4 Skyhawks – attempting to hit the huge air base at el-Mansourah. It culminated in an almost continuous dogfight lasting no less than 53 minutes. According to Egyptian estimates over 180 aircraft were involved at one time, the majority belonging to the Israelis. At 10 pm local time, Cairo Radio broadcast "Communiqué Number 39", announcing that there had been several air battles that day over a number of Egyptian airfields, that most intensive being over the northern Delta area. It also claimed that 15 enemy aircraft had been downed by Egyptian fighters for the loss of three Egyptian aircraft, while an even greater number of Israelis had been shot down by the Army and the Air Defense Forces over Sinai and the Suez Canal. For its part, Israel Radio claimed, early the following morning, that the IAF had shot down 15 Egyptian aircraft, a figure subsequently reduced to seven.

Following a more detailed analysis after the war had ended, the EAF actually increased its original claims and now asserts that the results of the el-Mansourah air battle were as follows: 17 Israeli aircraft confirmed shot down for the loss of six MiGs. Of the EAF aircraft lost, three were shot down by the enemy, two crashed because they ran out of fuel before their pilots could return to base and a third blew up after flying through the debris of an exploding Phantom which it had just shot down. ⁵. However, other aviation experts and military historians dispute the EAF figures of Israeli fighters being shot down. [1]

Later on, the Egyptian government changed the country’s “Air Force Day” from November 2 to October 14, to commemorate the Mansourah air battle⁶.

Libyan-Egyptian War

Main article: Libyan-Egyptian War

After the cease-fire, there were some more skirmishes between Libyan and Egyptian fighters. In one example, two LARAF MiG-23MS engaged two EAF MiG-21MF which had been upgraded to carry Western weaponry. The Libyan pilots made the mistake of trying to manoeuvre with the more nimble Egyptian fighters, and one MiG-23MS was shot down by Maj. Sal Mohammad, while the other used the speed advantage to escape. ⁷

Operation Bright Star

Egyptian F-16 flies during Operation Bright Star

Operation Bright Star is a joint / combined exercise by American and Egyptian forces in Egypt involving tactical air, ground, naval and special operations forces field training, conducted every two years.

Bright Star was first conducted in the summer of 1980 as a single service bilateral ground maneuver event involving only ground forces from the United States and Egypt.

Bright Star began to evolve in 1985 as air forces of both the U.S. and Egypt were added to this ground forces exercise. This marked the beginning of Bright Star as a joint endeavor for the US– meaning more than one U.S. service was involved. Special forces and naval forces of both countries joined the exercise in 1987.

Other allied nations also join Bright Star exercises in Egypt including France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Upgrade and development

Egyptian Air Force F-16D

Beginning 1982, the EAF began receiving [[|F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16]] fighters under the Peace Vector Program. In 1986, it received Mirage 2000 fighters and was licensed to manufacture them with 20 being produced with one lost in a training sortie. Egypt also license built Alphajets, Gazelles and Embraer EMB 312 Tucano airplanes.

The Camp David Accords caused a change in the composition of the EAF. The EAF began to rely on American, French and even some Chinese planes. The addition of these planes along with the ones already in the EAF gave it an interesting composition.

In 1987 the E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) entered service and was upgraded with advanced AN/APS-145 radars. The EAF also upgraded its F-16 fighters to enable them to fire the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.

The EAF also operates 35 AH-64 Apache attack helicopter which were initially delivered as AH-64A variant but were later upgraded to AH-64D standard⁸. The Egypt Air Force had rebuilt their AH-64A's into the D model. CH-47D's are also on order. The Egyptian Navy recently received the SH-2G Seasprite to replace and supplement their older Sea King and Gazelle helicopters⁹. 68 Grob G-115's and 120 K-8 Karakorum trainers were ordered to update the fleet⁹. They are still being delivered.

In the late 1990s, then Air Marshal Ahmed Shafik (and the incumbent Civil Aviation minister) expressed the ambitions of the Egyptian Air Force for the 21st century.

The EAF hopes to obtain the modern technology it needs to deter any aggression, help its allies, and protect Egyptian national security. This technology includes space and air reconnaissance systems; airborne command and control aircraft; advanced next generation fighters; and air refueling and heavy transport aircraft. Egypt is also one of many nations believed to have some interests in buying the JF-17 from the Sino-Pakistani consortium.

In 2002, Egypt requested 12 F-15E Strike Eagle strike fighter from the US. Israel quickly moved to block the sale, citing that in all Egypt's recent military exercises Israel was the target. The Americans refused to ban the sale of F-15s to Egypt at first but later agreed when Israel presented further evidence that Israel was in fact the "enemy" in all of Egypt's military exercises.¹⁰¹¹¹²

In November 6, 2006, Egypt began talks with Mikoyan over the possible sale of the MiG-29SMT to Egypt for 40 fighter . In 2007, Egypt further examined prospects for delivery of a larger batch of MiG-29SMT's (60-80 planes). The deal was encouraged by an effort by Russia to regain Egypt as an ally. Egypt had also made several deals with Ukranian companies for the upgrade of their old Mig-21 aircraft. The upgrade will include the implementation of Helmet-mounted-sight and R-73 missiles coupled with LCDs and few engines modifications . It's not clear whether the upgrade will include the insertion of the Kopyo Radar or it will not . ¹³¹⁴¹⁵

The EAF today

Currently, the backbone of the EAF are 220 F-16's, making Egypt the 4th largest F-16 operator in the world. The EAF also operates 19 Mirage 2000's. It continues to fly 32 upgraded F-4 Phantoms, Dassault Mirage Vs, C-130 Hercules. 6 + 2 E-2C Hawkeye AWACS aircraft which are being upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 standard provide AEW&C capability. But the EAF is still suffering from restrictions regarding its plans to procure 5th generation fighters , Air-to-Air refueling capabilities and guided/precision munitions , due to the refusal of the USA government to allow such weapons to be acquired by the EAF and also due to the failed deal for 4.5 billion in 2005 for 60-100 F-16C/D Block 60/62, Egypt had to turn to Russia for 40 MiG-29SMT & 24 Yak-130 plus a deal for 20 Sukhoi Su-35. Egypt has an additional future need for more than 100 medium multi-role fighters by 2010 to replace the rest of MIG-21 & F-4 with expectation of delivery between 2011 to 2015. France's offer for a mix of Rafale and used Mirage 2000 is in consideration. Egypt will also negpciating the license built/assemble the FC-1 using the K-8E production line starting in 2010 to replace the obsolete Chinese F-7 and the French Mirage 5 in the strike role.

Insignia

The Roundel of the EAF consists of three circles, with the outside one being red, the middle one white, and the inner one being black. These are the colors of the Egyptian flag.

The former roundels of the EAF included a similar variant with two green stars used from 1961 to 1973 thus the current insignia was also used during that war, and in both cases the current Egyptian flag was used , and one with the old Egyptian crescent and three stars on a green background.

Aircraft Inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service¹⁶¹⁷	Comments
Fighter Aircraft
Chengdu J-7 Airguard	China	Interceptor Multirole fighter	Total F-7B F-7M	90 42 48	out of 150 delivered, to be replaced by JF-17/FC-1
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21	Soviet Union	Multirole fighter Interceptor Reconnaissance Advanced trainer	Total MF PFM R UM	62 24 24 12 2	out of over 360 delivered, upgraded with British electronics and avionics; armed with mixed Russian and western weapons . In 2008 , Egypt made several agreements with Ukranian companies for the upgrade of these old fighters .
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II	United States	Fighter bomber	F-4E	32	out of 46 delivered
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States Turkey	Multirole fighter Advanced trainer Multirole fighter Advanced trainer	Total F-16A F-16B F-16C F-16D	220 34 8 136 42	46 of the F-16C/D are license built by TUSAS of Turkey. An additional 24 F-16C being ordered under the Peace Vector VI, 5 of which delivered in 2005-6. About 14 were lost during the 80s and 90s, replacement received, one was damaged upon landing, but was fixed in the USA and was re-deployed.
Dassault Mirage 2000	France	Advanced trainer Multirole fighter	Total 2000BM 2000EM	19 3 16	out of 20 delivered and assembled before production line closed, license built by Arab OI.
Ground Attack
Dassault Mirage 5	France	Multirole fighter Advanced trainer Ground attack Reconnaissance	Total 5E2 5SDD 5SDE 5SDR	60 12 6 36 6	out of 82 delivered
Aero L-59 Super Albatros	Czechoslovakia	Ground attack	L-59E	48
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet	France Germany	Advanced trainer Ground attack	Total MS1 MS2	44 30 14	license built by Arab OI
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	Advanced trainer	L-39ZO	10	ex-Libyan replaced BY Yak-130
Embraer EMB 312 Tucano	Brazil	Basic Trainer	EMB 312	54	license built by Arab OI, out of 134 built (80 of which delivered to Iraq)
Grob G-115	Germany	Primary trainer	G-115E	74
Hongdu K-8 Karakorum	China Pakistan	Advanced trainer	K-8E	80	70 of which are license built by Arab OI, an additional 40 are to be produced for delivery by 2010
Zlin Z 142C	Czechoslovakia	Primary Trainer	Z 142 C	48	Known as Shabarbar in the EAF
Transports
Antonov An-74	Ukraine	Tactical transport	An-74T-200	3	6 more on order¹⁶
Antonov An-24	Ukraine	Maritime patrol	An-24	3
Beechcraft 1900	United States	Maritime patrol ELINT	1900C 1900C	6 3
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo	Canada	Tactical Navigation	Total DHC-5D DHC-5D	9 5 4
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	Tactical Tactical EW/ELINT	Total C130H C130H30 EC130H	26 22 2 2	including 3 C-130H purchased from the Danish Air Force in 2004, out of 30 delivered, 4 were lost at different times, one of which during the Cyprus operation
Helicopter
Boeing CH-47 Chinook	Italy United States	Assault Assault Assault	Total CH-47C CH-47D CH-47D	19 3 12 4	license built by Agusta, of the 15 C model delivered, 12 were updated to D standard and added to the 4 D models received in 1999. The remaining 3 C models will be relegated to navigational training additional 6-8 in future deal
Hiller UH-12	United States	Rotor Training	UH-12E	17
Kaman SH-2 Seasprite	United States	ASW	SH-2G/E	13	Electronic/Navigation Suite upgraded to Egyptian Navy requirements, 10 originally delivered, 1 lost due to pilot error, 4 US Navy surplus were bought to replace the lost unit and the remaining 3 are used as spare
Mil Mi-6	Soviet Union	Heavy lift		9	out of 20 delivered
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	Assault/Gunship Gunship Command Jamming Reconnaissance Ambulance Artillery Observation	Total Mi-8T Mi8TVK Mi-8PPA Mi-8MV Mi-8R Mi-8MB Mi-8K	42 16 10 3 4 4 3 2	out of over 140 delivered replaced by MI-17 HIP Local assembled
Mil Mi-17	Soviet Union	Assault	Mi-17H	20
Boeing AH-64 Apache	United States	Attack/Gunship	AH-64D	36	additional 6 AH-64D Longbow being delivered, ordered in 2004, an additional 18 AH-64D Longbow are required pending approval of the US Congress through FMS. All AH-64A were converted to D Longbow standard
Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk	United States	Assault	UH-60A	4	18 additional on order from US surplus
Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk	United States	Assault and Recon	UH-60M	4
Westland Sea King	United Kingdom	ASW	MK 47	6	Egyptian variant of the British HAS2 model
Westland Commando	United Kingdom	Assault Assault EW	Total MK1 MK2 MK2E	24 5 17 2
Aérospatiale SA-342 Gazelle	France Egypt	Naval Patrol Battlefield Scout Anti-tank	Total SA 342K SA 342L SA342M	84 9 40 35	license-built by the Arab British Helicopter Company, out of 108 originally delivered and licensed built
Airborne Early Warning and Control
Grumman E-2 Hawkeye	United States	AEW	E-2C	6 + 2	Conversion to E-2 Hawkeye 2000 standard in progress, due to completion by end of 2008 . Also , in 2007 Egypt received 2 additional Hawkeye AEWs from the US reserves and they'd been brought to the Hawkeye-2000 standards .

Presidential and Governmental Fleet

In addition to Air Force aircraft, a number of aircraft are directly under government control (Presidential Fleet), including:

In Reserve

20 Sukhoi Su-20C - Fighter Bomber

Obsolete and Retired

80 Sukhoi Su-7B - Ground Attack, out of 160 received
120 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 - Fighter and Ground Attack, out of more than 440 received
19 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 - Strike Fighter, out of more than 145 delivered
40 Shenyang F-6 - Chinese copy of MiG-19 Interceptor Fighter, out of 72 received
6 FT-6 - Chinese copy of MiG-19 Advanced Trainer, out of 18 received
19 Tupolev Tu-16 - Heavy and Long Range Bomber, out of more 32 received
12 Ilyushin Il-28 - Light Bomber and Maritime Patrol/reconnaissance, out of more than 80 received
30 Antonov An-12 - out of more than 45 received
119 Aero L-29 Delfin - Basic Trainer, out of more than 170 received
12 Mil Mi-4 - Utility transport helicopter, out of over 140 received

Future Aircraft

Chengdu JF-17 Thunder Block 10 (Local Production/Assembly)
MiG-29 SMT
Sukhoi Su-35

Commanders

The following individuals have had command of the Egyptian Air Force:¹⁸

References

^ "Ministry of Defense-Egypt". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved on 2009-01-05.
^ Nicolle, David; Sherif Sharmy (2003-09-24). "Battle of el-Mansourah". Middle East Database. Air Combat Information Group. Retrieved on 2009-01-05.
^ F-16 Air Forces - Egypt
^ Kenneth M. Pollack, Mark Grimsley, Peter Maslowski, Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948-1991,University of Nebraska Press, 2004 p.170
^ AirEnthusiast, Volume 100 (July/August 2002)
^ Mansourah air battle, Near true story
^ Libya & Egypt, 1971-1979
^ Boeing: Boeing, U.S. Army Sign Contract for 35 Egyptian AH-64D Apaches
^ ^a ^b Scramble on the Web - Egyptian Air Force
^ Shifting sands, changing prospects - Jane's Defence News
^ Israel warns against Syria obtaining new weapons - Jane's Defence News
^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990313/ai_n10484193
^ RUSSIA-INDIA-EGYPT-MIG-UKRAINE. | Ukraine News (April , 2006)
^ Daily News Egypt - Full Article
^ Middle East Newsline
^ ^a ^b Egyptian military aviation OrBat
^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
^ Commanders
^ Air Force
^ V H Tait
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ http://www.mmc.gov.eg/branches/AIRFORCE/gg13.htm
^ ^a ^b The Air Force
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ Air Force
^ http://www.mmc.gov.eg/branches/AIRFORCE/cv1.htm
^ Air Vice Marshal

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Air force of Egypt