The history of the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) dates back to the Second World War when the Royal Air Force of Great Britain, based many squadrons in Egypt to fight the Germans. 

 In the years that followed 23 July Revolution of 1952, Egypt embarked on rebuilding its military capability including the Air Force. The former Soviet Union provided equipment, training and advisers with a large number of Soviet technical personnel based in Egypt.

After the 1973 war, Egypt turned to France and the USA with the delivery of Mirage 5's and F-4E's. Subsequently in early 1980s, this was followed by the Mirage 2000's and F-16C's being.The EAF also placed orders with the China for the F-7 (upgraded MiG-21's) and recently K-8 trainers.

The thrust of EAF modernization program is both the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and the Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters.

Although the Egyptian Air Force still retains many of the equipment and fighting doctrine, from the former Soviet Union’s era. But currently the training and equipment from the West, the EAF is considered Egypt's most elite and Western-looking armed service.

According to Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessment - North Africa (dated: Jul 15, 2011) the Egyptian Air Force:

Is the most capable air arm in North Africa, with even the Israeli Air Force speaking highly of the quality of its aircrew.


Commander of the Air Force: Maj. Gen. Reda Mahmoud Hafez Muhammad 
Air Force Personnel Strength: 30,000 (plus 20,000 reserves)
Inventory Summary:

  • Combat: 518 (total), 511 (in service)
  • Transport: 62 (total), 62 (in service)
  • Helicopters: 232 (total), 232 (in service)

Website: http://www.mmc.gov.eg

Aircraft Type Versions In service Notes
Combat Capable
F-4 Phantom II Fighter bomber E 32 Out of 46 delivered, the figure what remained in service.
F-16 Fighting Falcon Total 240 220 (46 built by TAI of Turkey) delivered. With another twenty F-16 Block 52 on order with anticipated delivery during 2013.
MRCA C 186
D 54
J-7 Airguard Total 53 Out of 150 delivered, the figure what remained in service.
Interceptor B 27
MRCA M 26
Mirage V Total 60 Out of a total of 82 delivered, the figure what remained in service. 
ODC SDD 6
Interceptor E 12
MRCA SDE 36
Reconnaissance DDR 6
Mirage 2000 Total 18 Out of 20 delivered.
OCU BM 3
MRCA EM 15
MiG-21 Fishbed Total 62 Out of over 360 delivered (the figure what remained in service). Upgraded with British avionics and armed with mixed Russian and Western weapons. In 2008, Egypt agreed with Ukrainian firms to upgrade the current fleet.
MRCA MF 36
Interceptor PFM 12
Reconnaissance R 12
OCM UM 2
Transport
An-74 Coaler Tactical transport T-200A/TK-200A 9
Beechcraft 1900 Total 8
Maritime patrol C 6
ELINT C 2
C-130 Hercules Tactical transport Total 26 From 30 aircraft were delivered, the figure what remained in service
EW/ELINT H 22
H30 2
EC130H 2
C-295 Tactical transport C-295 1 Three on order, first delivery 23 Sept 2011 with remaining two in process.
DHC-5 Buffalo Tactical transport Total 9
Navigational training D 5
D 4
Trainer Aircraft
Alpha Jet Total 54 Assembled by Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) under licence. Possible replaced with Yak-130.
OCU E(MS1) 40
COIN MS2 14
EMB 312 Tucano Basic Trainer A 54 Assembled by Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) under licence. From 134 assembled, 80 delivered to Iraq.
G-115 Tutor Primary trainer E 74
K-8 Karakorum Advanced trainer E 120 110 assembled Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) under licence.
L-39 Albatros Advanced trainer ZO 10 Ex-Libyan Air Force. Planned phased out.
L-59 Super Albatros COIN/Light Attack E 47 From 48 delivered, the figure what remained in service.
UH-12 Raven Rotary trainer E 17 From 18 delivered, the figure what remained in service
Z-142C Primary Trainer C 48
Transport
An-74 Coaler Tactical transport T-200A/TK-200A 9
Beechcraft 1900 Total 8
Maritime patrol C 6
ELINT C 2
C-130 Hercules Tactical transport Total 26 From 30 aircraft were delivered, the figure what remained in service
EW/ELINT H 22
H30 2
EC130H 2
C-295 Tactical transport C-295 1 Three on order, first delivery 23 Sept 2011 with remaining two in process.
DHC-5 Buffalo Tactical transport Total 9
Navigational training D 5
D 4
Helicopter
CH-47 Chinook Total 19 Six CH-47D on order.
Navigational training C 3
Assault Support D 16
SH-2G Super Seasprite ASW G/E 13 Electronic/Navigation suite upgraded, and currently utilized to Egyptian Navy.
Mi-8 Hip Total 42 From 140 delivered, the figure is what remained in service. Possible some replaced by Mi-17 Hip.
Assault/Gunship T 46
Gunship TVK 10
Command PPA 3
EW MV 4
Reconnaissance R 4
MedEvac MB 3
Artillery observer K 2
Mi-17 Hip Assault Support H 51 Including 24 units ordered in 2009 & were delivered in 2010.
AH-64 Apache Attack helicopter D 47 Modernization of current inventory is in progress, while an additional ten AH-64D Longbow Block II are being delivered.
UH-60 Black Hawk Total 30
Assault Support A 22
CSAR M 4
Assault Support M 4
Sea King ASW Mk.47 6 Anti-submarine version of the Sea King HAS.2
Commando Total 26 From 28 delivered, the figure what remained in service. Two Mk.2B version were reconfigured as VIP transport for the Presidential fleet.
Assault Support Mk.1 5
Assault Support Mk.2 17
EW Mk.2E 4
SA-342 Gazelle Total 84 From 108 assembled by the Arab British Helicopter Company (Anglo-Italiano-Egyptian joint venture) under license.
Maritime Patrol K 9
Battlefield Scout L 40
Attack helicopter M 35
Airborne Early Warning 
and Control
E-2 Hawkeye AEW Hawkeye 2000 configuration 8 Five E-2C aircraft upgraded to Hawkeye 2000 (HE2K) standard, one upgraded version delivered and two sued CHE2K ordered in late 2007 and delivered subsequently.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Model-324 Scarab Jet Reconnaissance UAV 52 From 56 delivered, the figure what remained in service
R4E-50 Sky Eye Reconnaissance UAV 48
Camcopter Helicopter Reconnaissance UAV 2
Kader Reconnaissance/Target UAV N/A
Civil and Military Airports in Egypt
You may click the map's icon for more location details
NameAddress
Asyut International Airport
, IATA Code: ATZ, ICAO Code: HEAT, 27° 2' 8" North, 31° 0' 7" East
Luxor International Airport
, IATA Code: LXR, ICAO Code: HELX, 25° 40' 3" North, 32° 42' 4" East
Beni Suef Air Force Base
, ICAO Code: HEBS, 29° 12' 5" North, 31° 1' 0" East
Hurghada International Airport
, IATA Code: HRG, ICAO Code: HEGN, 27° 10' 7" North, 33° 48' 0" East
Cairo West Aerodrome
, IATA Code: CWE, ICAO Code: HECW, 30° 7' 0" North, 30° 54' 9" East
Almaza Air Force Base
, ICAO Code: HEAZ, 30° 5' 5" North, 31° 21' 6" East
Cairo International Airport
, IATA Code: CAI, ICAO Code: HECA, 30° 7' 3" North, 31° 24' 3" East
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
, IATA Code: SSH, ICAO Code: HESH, 27° 58' 6" North, 34° 23' 7" East
Aswan International Airport
, IATA Code: ASW, ICAO Code: HESN, 23° 57' 9" North, 32° 49' 2" East
St Catherine International Airport
, IATA Code: SKV, ICAO Code: HESC, 28° 41' 1" North, 34° 3' 8" East
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