Egyptian Army

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The Egyptian Army is the largest service within the Egyptian military establishment. It is estimated to number around 340,000, plus around 375,000 reservists for a total of 655-715,000^[1].It is the largest army in the African continent and the 3rd largest in the Middle East after Turkey and Iran. [1]

The Egyptian Frontier Corps is a lightly armed paramilitary unit of about 12,000 men, mostly Bedouins, responsible for border surveillance, general peacekeeping, drug interdiction, and prevention of smuggling. In the late 1980s, the force was equipped with remote sensors, night-vision binoculars, communications vehicles, and high-speed motorboats.

The commander of the armed forces is Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi Soliman.

1 Structure
2 Armor & Weaponry
3 References

[edit] Structure

HQ, Operations Authority: Cairo
- HQ, Central Military Region: Cairo
- HQ, Second Field Army: Ismaelia
- HQ, Third Field Army: Suez
- HQ, Western Military Region: Sidi Burani (IISS: Mersa Matruh)
- HQ, Northern Military Region: Alexandria
- HQ, Southern Military Region: Assiut (IISS: Aswan)

These commands include the following formations:^[2]

4 Armored Divisions (each consisting of 2 Armored Brigades and 1 Mechanized Brigade, and 1 Artillery Brigade). Armored Division during the Yom Kippur War included the 4th and 21st.
8 Mechanized Infantry Divisions (each consisting of 1 Armored Brigade, 2 Mechanized Brigades, and 1 Artillery Brigade). Infantry and Mechanised Division during the Yom Kippur War included the 2nd, 7th, 16th, 18th, 19th Inf and 6th & 23rd Mechanised.^[3]
1 Republican Guard Armored Division.
4 Independent Armored Brigades.
4 Independent Mechanized Brigades.
2 Independent Infantry Brigades.
1 Airmobile Brigade.
1 Airborne Brigade.
6 Commando Groups.
15 Independent Artillery Brigades.
2 Heavy Mortar Brigades.
6 ATGW Brigades.
2 SSM Brigades {one with 9 Batteries of FROG-7 and Sakr-80 and one with 9 Batteries of Scud-B Project-T (an enhanced Scud-C) } Each Battery consist of 6 Launchers with two reloads each.

[edit] Armor & Weaponry

[edit] Light Weapons

AKM
MISR (firearm)
PK machine gun
RPK
KPV heavy machine gun
M-16 rifle
FN MAG produced locally
MP5
UMP used by CFS and airport security

[edit] Combat vehicles

[edit] Main Battle Tanks

M1A1 MBT(880): [assembled locally in three phases: Phase I (1989-1998): 555, Phase II (1999-2004): 200, Phase III (2004-2007): 125]
M60A3 MBT (1,700): (735 M-60A3 + 700 M-60A1 brought up to A3 Standard from US Surplus in Germany between 1979-1988 + 265 M-60A3 from Dutch Army Surplus in 1996) (All upgraded with better engine of 909 HP output, modern fire control & balistics computers, infrared devices, modern laser rangefinders, and added armor including reactive armor & better suspension)
T-62 MBT (450): (out of over 1300 remaining in 1980s)(Refurbished and modernized with British engines, Italian Fire control & balisitics computers, Infrared devices, Laser rangerfinders & stabilizers, modenized suspension, NBC protection and added armor)
T-55 MBT (390): (out of over 1650 remaining in 1980s) (Refurbished and modernized with British engines, Italian Fire control & balisitics computers, Infrared devices, Laser rangerfinders & stabilizers, modenized suspension, NBC protection and added armor)
Ramses II Heavily Modernized T-55 MBT (260) (See note below)

[edit] Infantry Fighting Vehicles

YPR-765 PRCO-B & PRCO-C: Tracked Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles IFV (586)
BMP-1 Tracked Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle IFV (220)
Fahd-30 IFVs upgraded with BMP-2 turrets (65)
EIFV Tracked Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Egyptian Specification variant of the M113 (300 plus option for additional 900) ^[4]

[edit] Armored Personnel Carrier

BMR-600 6X6 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier IFV (260)
Fahd 4X4 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (100)
BTR-50 Tracked Arnored Personnel Carrier (200)
BTR-60 8X8 Wheeled Personnel Carrier (250)
OT-62 TOPAS Tracked Armored Personnel Carrier (500)
OT-64 8X8 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (300)
M113 Tracked Armored Personnel Carrier (2650)

[edit] Mechanized Anti Tank Vehicles

YPR-765 PRAT Tracked Armored TOW/ATGW Carrier (210)
M901 ITV(Improved TOW Vehicle) (52)

[edit] Reconnaissance and Scout

BRDM-2 4X4 Reconnaissance Armored Vehicle/ATGW Carrier (300)
Commando Scout 4X4 Reconnaissance Scout (112)

[edit] Artillery

[edit] Short Range Balistic Missiles

Project-T (an enhanced Scud-C) Short range Ballistic Missiles (Range: 600 km) (24)
Scud-C Short range Ballistic Missles (Range 500 km) (40-60)
Scud-B Short range Ballistic Missles (Range 300 km) (120)

[edit] Short Range Field Rockets

Sakr-80 Short range Battlefield Rocket (Range: 80 km) (380)
FROG-7 Short range Battlefield Rocket (Range: 70 km) (100)

[edit] Self Propelled Artillery

M109A1/A2 155mm self-propelled howitzer (279)
M109A5 155mm self-propelled howitzer (201)
SPH 122mm Self-propelled Howitzer (D-30 Howitzer on M-109 A2 Chassis)(Locally Assembled) (124)

[edit] Towed Filed Artillery

GHN-45 155mm towed howitzer w/APU (400)(Being manufactured locally)
M-46 130mm towed gun (420) (Manufactured locally- production as needed)
Type 59 1M 130mm towed gun (150)
D-30 122mm towed howitzer (600)(Manufactured locally-production as needed)
Type 60 122mm towed gun (48)
D-74 122mm towed gun (144)
M1944 100mm Field gun (200)

[edit] Training

D-20 152mm towed Gun-Howitzer (50)
M-30 122mm towed howitzer (200)
A-19 122mm towed gun Model 1931/37 (150)

[edit] In Reserve and obsolete

[edit] Air Defence

M1097 Avenger - forward-area air defense system w/Stinger
MIM-23 Hawk - medium range surface-to-air guided missile systems
MIM-72/M48 Chaparral - mobile short range surface-to-air guided missile systems
Crotale - mobile short-range surface-to-air missile systems
SA-6 Gainful - mobile low-medium altitude guided surface-to-air missile systems
SA-3 Goa - stationary/mobile low-medium level surface-to-air guided missile systems
SA-2 Guideline - stationary high-altitude surface-to-air guided missile systems
Skyguard - Stationary radar guided short range medium altitude gun/missile system, combining Oerlikon-Contraves 35mm twin AA guns with a quad Aspide 2000 medium range surface-to-air guided missiles (36)
Nile 23 23mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns radar guided (350)
Sinai 23 23mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns radar guided w/stinger AAM (150)
S-60 57mm anti-aircraft guns (200)
KS-19 85mm anti-aircraft guns (150)
ZU-23-2 23mm anti-aircraft guns (117)

[edit] Upgrade projects

The Ramses II is a heavily modified T-55 Tank built by Egypt. The Ramses II has an American-style suspension similar to that of the M-60A3, and uses the same engine, transmission, drive train, and 105 mm gun as the M-60A3. It carries more fuel internally, and has IR vision for the gunner and driver as well as image intensification for the commander and a laser rangefinder with ballistic computer for the gunner. Armor has been added and most of these tanks also carry side skirts. The vehicle has been radiologically shielded, has an NBC overpressure system, and mounts 6 smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret. The hatch layout has been retained, but the Ramses II is nearly one meter longer than the T-55. Entered production upgrades in 2004-2005.

[edit] References

^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2006, p.183
^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2006, p.183
^ Historical Notes and Scenarios Booklet, Suez '73: The Battle of the Chinese Farm (boardgame), Game Designers' Workshop, 1981
^ United Defence

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Categories: Military of Egypt | Armies