Egyptian Air Force

The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) (Arabic: القوات الجوية المصرية‎, romanized: El Qūwāt El Gawīyä El Maṣrīya), is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces, is responsible for all airborne defence missions and operates all military aircraft, including those used in support of the Egyptian Army, Egyptian Navy and the Egyptian Air Defense Forces. The latter was created as a separate command in the 1970s and it coordinates with the Air Force to integrate air and ground-based air defense operations. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal (Lieutenant General equivalent). Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Mohamed Abbas. The force's motto is 'Higher and higher for the sake of glory' (Arabic: إلى العلا في سبيل المجد‎, I‘la’ al-'olà fī sabīl al-magd).

The Egyptian Army Air Service was formed in 1932, and became an independent air force in 1937. It had little involvement in the Second World War. From 1948 to 1973 it took part in four separate wars with Israel, as well as the quasi-War of Attrition. It also supported the Egyptian Army during the North Yemen Civil War and the Libyan–Egyptian War of 1977. From 1977 to 2011 it saw virtually no combat, but has participated in numerous exercises, including Operation Bright Star. Since 1992 the EAF has also provided aviation support for the police and other national security organizations engaged in the war against terrorism.

The EAF primary role is the air defence of the nation, with secondary tasks of strike and army support operations. The EAF provides official government transport and carries out international search-and- rescue operations in the desert, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea.

In 2014 the IISS estimated the total active manpower of the Egyptian Air Force at approximately 30,000 personnel, including 10,000 conscripts, with reserves of 20,000 personnel. This contrasts with an estimate of some 35,000 personnel, with most aircrew being long-term professionals, in 2010.

Aircraft Inventory

Combat Aircraft

• Air Trainer AT-802U x 12 (COIN Aircraft)
• Dassault Mirage 2000EM x 20 (Multirole Fighter)
• Dassault Rafale EM/DM x 36 (Multirole Fighter) - 30 more on order
• Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet x 14 (Light Attack Aircraft)
• General Dynamics F-16C/D Fighting Falcon x 240 (Multirole Fighter)
• Mikoyan MiG-29M/M2 x 46 (Multirole Fighter)
• Sukhoi Su-35SE x 6 (Air Superiority Fighter) - 24 on order

AEW&C Aircraft

• Beechcraft 1900 x 4 (Reconnaissance/ELINT Aircraft)
• Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000 x 8 (AWACS Aircraft)

Transport Aircraft

• Airbus A400M Atlas x 0 (Transport Aircraft) - 12 on order
• Antonov An-74 x 10 (Transport Aircraft)
• Beechcraft 1900 x 4 (Transport Aircraft)
• CASA C-295 x 22 (Transport Aircraft)
• De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo x 8 (Utility Transport)
• Ilyushin Il-76MF x 2 (Strategic Airlifter)
• Lockheed C-130H Hercules x 22 (Tactical Transport/SAR/ELINT Aircraft)

Helicopters

• Aérospatiale SA342 Gazelle x 89 (Scout/Anti-Armour Helicopter)
• AgustaWestland AW109 x 3 (Light Utility/VIP Transport)
• AgustaWestland AW139 x 2 (Light Utility/VIP Transport)
• AgustaWestland AW149 x 5 (Utility Helicopter) - 19 on order
• AgustaWestland AW189 x 0 (Utility/SAR Helicopter - 8 on order
• Boeing CH-47D Chinook x 19 (Transport Helicopter) - 6 more on order
• Boeing AH-64D/E Apache x 46 (Attack Helicopter) - 10 more on order
• Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil x 3 (Liaison Helicopter)
• Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite x 10
• Kamov Ka-52 x 46
• Mil Mi-8/17 x 62
• Mil Mi-35 x 6
• Sikorsky UH-60M Blackhawk x 4
• Westland Commando Mk.2/1 x 23

Trainer Aircraft

• Aero L-59E Super Albatros x 48 (Jet Trainer)
• Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet x 28 (Jet Trainer)
• Dassault Mirage 2000BM x 4 (Conversion Trainer)
• Embraer EMB 312 Tucano x 54 (Primary Trainer)
• Grob G115 x 74 (Trainer Aircraft)
• Hongdu K-8 Karakorum x 120 (Jet Trainer)

UAVs

• ASN-209 (Surveillance Drone)
• AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma (Surveillance Drone)
• CASC CH-5 Rainbow (Surveillance Drone)
• Chengdu Wing Loong (Reconnaissance UAV)
• Lipán M3 x (Surveillance Drone)
• Meggit Banshee (Target Drone)
• Teledyne Ryan Scarab (Surveillance Drone)
• Yabhon United 40