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The Egyptian Air Force, or '''EAF''' (, ''''), 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 Magdy Galal Sharawi . The force's Motto is 'Higher and higher for the sake of glory' (, ''''). Currently the EAF is the largest Arab air force and probably the most powerful air force in Africa and the second in the Middle East after the Israeli Air Force with a total of over 567 combat aircraft and 149 armed helicopters. HISTORY Establishment 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. The first commander of the EAAF was a Canadian squadron leader, Victor Herbert 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 Audax es for army cooperation and close support and Avro Anson s for VIP work followed shortly afterwards. 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 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 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 Hurricane s 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 MC205 V fighters and trainers from Italy . The 1948 War Following the British withdrawal from Palestine and the founding of Israel on 14 May 1948 , Egypt declared war along with other Arab countries on the new state. The Egyptian Air Force contributed to this conflict with C-47 Dakota s and Spitfire s and managed to shoot down two Israeli aircraft but suffered heavy losses. Egyptian air force Spitfires also 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 came 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 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. The Six-Day War In the 1967 Six-Day War the EAF was destroyed on the ground in mere hours after Israel launched a surprise attack. Subsequently, the Soviets again sent a large number of aircraft and trainers to Egypt in order to help revitalize the EAF. On 14 July 1967 , using what planes were left, the (EAF) launched a strike on Israeli targets, located east of the Suez Canal, forcing the Israelis to withdraw temporarily from the front line. 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.''" Upgrade and development Beginning 1982, the EAF began receiving 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 and 1 lost in a training sortie. Egypt also license built Alphajet s, 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 Warning and Control System (AWACS) 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 's and 80 K-8 Karakorum Trainers were ordered to update the fleethttp://www.scramble.nl/eg.htm. 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-15 s 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.http://www.janes.com/defence/news/jidr/jidr001102_01_n.shtmlhttp://www.janes.com/defence/news/jdw/jdw000126_04_n.shtmlhttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990313/ai_n10484193 In November 6 , 2006 , Egypt began talks with Mikoyan over the possible sale of the MiG-29 to Egypt. In 2007 , Egypt further examined prospects for delivery of a large batch of MiG-29 's. The deal would include offsets in an effort by Russia to regain Egypt as an ally.http://www.accessmylibrary.com/comsite5/bin/pdinventory.pl?pdlanding=1&referid=2930&purchase_type=ITM&item_id=0286-14935709http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3788http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2006/november/11_03_4.html EAF TODAY Currently, the backbone of the EAF are 217 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 Phantom s, Dassault Mirage V s, C-130 Hercules . 6 E-2C Hawkeye AWACS aircraft which are being upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 standard provide AEW&C capability. 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 and one with the old Egyptian crescent and three stars on a green background. ORDER OF BATTLE See Order Of Battle Of The Egyptian Air Force AIRCRAFT INVENTORY | ||||||||||||||||
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| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"In service"World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, '' Aviation Week & Space Technology '', January 15 2007 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Aero_L-39" class="copylinks">Aero L-39 Adv trainer L-39ZO 10 ex-Libyan |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Aero_L-59_Super_Albatros" class="copylinks">Aero L-59 Super Albatros Adv trainer<br>Ground attack L-59E 48 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Aérospatiale_Gazelle" class="copylinks">Aérospatiale Gazelle <br> <br>Naval Patrol<br>Battlefield Scout<br>Anti-tank'''Total'''<br>SA 342K<br>SA 342L<br>SA342M '''84'''<br>9<br>40<br>35 license-built by Arab British Helicopter, out of 108 originally delivered and licensed built |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Antonov_An-74" class="copylinks">Antonov An-74 Tact transport An-74T-200 3 additional 6 on order with a total of 18 required |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Antonov_An-24" class="copylinks">Antonov An-24 Maritime patrol An-24 3 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Beechcraft_1900" class="copylinks">Beechcraft 1900 <br>Maritime patrol<br>ELINT<br> <br>1900C<br>1900C <br>6<br>3<br> |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Boeing_AH-64_Apache" class="copylinks">Boeing AH-64 Apache <br>Attack helicopter<br>Attack helicopter 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 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook" class="copylinks">Boeing CH-47 Chinook <br> <br>Asslt helicopter<br>Asslt helicopter '''Total''' CH-47C<br>CH-47D '''19'''<br>15<br>4 license built by Agusta, existing C models being converted to D standards |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Chengdu_J-7" class="copylinks">Chengdu J-7 Interceptor F-7B 60 out of 120 delivered |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault_Mirage_5" class="copylinks">Dassault Mirage 5 <br>Fighter<br>Adv trainer<br>Ground Attack<br>Reconnaissance '''Total'''<br>5E2<br>5SDD<br>5SDE<br>5SDR '''60'''<br>12<br>6<br>36<br>6 Some attrition through the 80's and 90's have reduced the inventory from 82 to 60 planes |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault_Mirage_2000" class="copylinks">Dassault Mirage 2000 <br>Adv trainer<br>Multirole fighter '''Total'''<br>2000BM<br>2000EM '''19'''<br>3<br>16 out of 20 delivered, license built by Arab OI , one lost (crashed on take off) in a trainning sortie |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Dassault-Breguet/Dornier_Alpha_Jet" class="copylinks">Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet <br> <br>Adv trainer<br>Ground attack '''Total'''<br>MS1<br>MS2 '''44'''<br>30<br>14 license built by Arab OI |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/de_Havilland_Canada_DHC-5_Buffalo" class="copylinks">De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo <br>Tact transport<br>Nav training '''Total''' DHC-5D<br>DHC-5D '''9'''<br>5<br>4 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Embraer_EMB_312_Tucano" class="copylinks">Embraer EMB 312 Tucano Basic Trainer EMB 312 54 license built by Arab OI, out of 134 built (80 of which delivered to Iraq) |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Grob_G-115" class="copylinks">Grob G-115 Primary trainer G-115E 68 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Grumman_E-2_Hawkeye" class="copylinks">Grumman E-2 Hawkeye AEW E-2C 6 Conversion to E-2 Hawkeye 2000 standard in progress, due to completion by end of 2008 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Hiller_UH-12" class="copylinks">Hiller UH-12 Training heli UH-12E 17 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Hongdu_JL-8" class="copylinks">Hongdu JL-8 <br> Adv trainer K-8E 80 70 of which are license built by Arab OI, an additional 40 are ordered for delivery by 2010 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Kaman_SH-2_Seasprite" class="copylinks">Kaman SH-2 Seasprite ASW helicopter SH-2G/E 13 Electronic/Nav Suite upgraded to Egyptian Navy requirements, 10 originally delivered, 1 lost due to pilot error, 4 surplus added to replace the lost unit and the remaining 3 as spare |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Lockheed_C-130_Hercules" class="copylinks">Lockheed C-130 Hercules <br>Tact transport<br>Tact transport<br> EW/ELINT '''Total'''<br>C130H<br>C130H30<br>EC130H'''26'''<br>22<br>2<br>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 Malta operation |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Lockheed_F-16_Fighting_Falcon" class="copylinks">Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon <br> <br>Multirole Fighter<br>Adv trainer<br>Multirole Fighter<br>Adv trainer '''Total'''<br>F-16A<br>F-16B<br>F-16C<br>F-16D '''220''' <br>34<br>8<br>136<br>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 About 14 were lost during the 80s and 90s, replacement received, one was damaged upon landing, but is being fixed in the USA, awaiting re-deployment |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/McDonnell-Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II" class="copylinks">McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II Fighter Bomber F-4E 32 out of 46 delivered, 35 of which in 1979, 8 in 1988 with additional 3 replacement for crashed planes |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mikoyan_MiG-21" class="copylinks">Mikoyan MiG-21 <br>Fighter<br>Interceptor<br>Reconnaissance<br>Adv trainer '''Total'''<br>MF<br>PFM<br>R<br>UM '''62''' <br>24<br>25<br>12<br>1 out of over 360 delivered, some may be used for attrition |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mil_Mi-6" class="copylinks">Mil Mi-6 Heavy lift helicopter 9 out of 20 delivered |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mil_Mi-8" class="copylinks">Mil Mi-8 <br>Asslt helicopter<br>Gunship<br>Airb Command<br>Airb Jamming<br>Reconnaissance<br>Ambulance<br>Artlry Observ <br>Mi-8T<br>Mi8TVK<br>Mi-8PPA<br>Mi-8MV<br>Mi-8R<br>Mi-8MB<br>Mi-8K '''42'''<br>16<br>10<br>3<br>4<br>4<br>3<br>2 out of over 140 delivered |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mil_Mi-17" class="copylinks">Mil Mi-17 Asslt helicopter 20 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Westland_Sea_King" class="copylinks">Westland Sea King ASW helicopter MK 47 6 Egyptian variant of the British HAS2 model |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Westland_Sea_King" class="copylinks">Westland Commando <br>Asslt helicopter<br>Asslt helicopter<br>EW helicopter'''Total'''<br>MK1<br>MK2<br>MK2E '''24''' <br>5<br>17<br>2 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sikorsky_S-70" class="copylinks">Sikorsky S-70 Asslt helicopter UH-60A 4 18 additional on order from US surplus |
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