Egyptian Air Force

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	806 aircraft (total) 277 armed helicopters 30,000 Personnel ^[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
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, K-8 Karakorum K-8E
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 586 combat aircraft and 149 armed helicopters. The backbone of the Egyptian Air Force is 216 (220 received, 18 were lost in mishaps/accidents and 7 F-16A/B grounded, but later on, were overhauled and updated; 14 additional F-16 were acquired to replace the 18 lost). The Egyptian Air Force is the 4th largest operator of F-16's in the world.^[3]

History

Establishment

First three Egyptian pilots

Egyptian Air Force Insignia (1937-1958)

Royal Egyptian Air Force ensign

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 British Royal Air Force 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 the United Kingdom for specialised training.

On November 2, 1930, King of Egypt and Sudan, Fuad I 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 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 afterward.

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 Zone, 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 state to use the Lysander in action, during the Palestine War of 1948.

Second World War

Main article: World War II

As the Egyptian border was threatened by an Italian and German invasion during the Second World War, the British Royal Air Force established more bases in Egypt. 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 Egypt maintained its official neutrality until very late in the war. As a result, 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.

Israel's War

Main article: 1948 Arab-Israeli War

Following the British withdrawal from Palestine and the establishment of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948, Egyptian forces crossed into Palestine as part of a wider Arab League military coalition in support of the Palestinians against the Israelis. The Egyptian Air Force contributed with C-47 Dakotas performing as light bombers and Spitfires and managed to shoot down two Israeli aircraft. On May 22, Egyptian Spitfires attacked the British RAF airfield at Ramat David, believing the base had already been taken over by Israeli forces. The first raid surprised the British, 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 afterward, 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.

Relations with Britain were soon restored, although the continuing official state of war 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, a British Gloster Meteor F4, and shortly after De Havilland Vampire FB5s.

After the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, the Egyptian Government was determined to move away from reliance on British armaments. In 1955, under President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egypt began acquiring weaponry, including aircraft, from the Soviet Union. Initial Soviet 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 the Egyptian Air Force's 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 the Egyptian Government's nationalisation of 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 with non-British help.

In 1958, Egypt merged with Syria to form the United Arab Republic, and the previously separate Egyptian, and Syrian forces were combined as the United Arab Republic Air Force. Though Syria left the union in 1961, Egypt continued to use the union's official name until 1971, including for its air force.

By the mid-1960s, British aircraft had been 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 modernise 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 EAF 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 Yemeni Royalist side received support from Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, while the Yemeni Republicans were supported by Egypt. 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.

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 the United States to respond on its behalf. President Kennedy sent only a wing of jet fighters and bombers to Dhahran Airbase, demonstrating to Egypt the seriousness of his 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 the Israeli Air Force destroyed its airbases in a sudden attack (Operation Focus). During the last four days the EAF conducted only 150 sorties against Israeli units throughout the Sinai. ^[4] After the war, the Soviet Union replenished EAF stocks, sending large numbers of aircraft and trainers to Egypt in order to help revitalize the EAF.

The War of Attrition

Main article: War of Attrition

The years between 1967 and 1970 involved a prolonged campaign of attrition against Israel. The EAF went through a large construction plan to build air bases to increase its survivability.

During this period Egypt also received replacements for losses it suffered during the Six Day War. The EAF was the first branch of the Egyptian armed forces to return to the war.

Nevertheless, the EAF could not 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 survivors brought back valuable experience.

October War 1973

Main article: Yom Kippur War

The EAF was involved in the initial raid 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 height. Their attacks largely went undetected and the IAF's belated response flew right into the teeth of the Egyptian air defence umbrella.

EAF aircraft were held in reserve after that point, mainly concentrating on airfield defence 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 'Kelt' 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 used a gap between the two Egyptian armies to cross the Suez Canal west into Africa (Operation Stouthearted Men), in the process destroying Egyptian SAM sites on the west bank, the EAF was forced into battle against the IAF. The EAF claimed 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 these engagements, Egyptian MiG-21s (of all types) challenged Israeli Mirage IIICJs or Neshers.

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

It was during this war that the EAF applied the lessons it earlier learnt 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."^[5]

El-Mansourah air battle

During the October 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.^[6].

Later on, the Egyptian Government changed the country’s “Air Force Day” from November 2 to October 14, to commemorate the Mansourah air battle^[7].

Libyan-Egyptian War

During the Libyan-Egyptian War, there were some skirmishes between Libyan and Egyptian fighter jets. In one instance, two LARAF MiG-23MS engaged two EAF MiG-21MF that 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 EAF Maj. Sal Mohammad, while the other Libyan aircraft used its speed advantage to escape. ^[8]

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 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 standard^[9]. 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 helicopters^[10]. 74 Grob G-115's and 120 K-8 Karakorum trainers were ordered to update the fleet^[10].

Future requirements

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.

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.^[11]^[12]^[13]

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. On November 6, 2006, Egypt began talks with Mikoyan over the possible sale of 40 MiG-29SMT fighters.

In 2007, Egypt further examined prospects for delivery of a larger batch of MiG-29SMTs (60-80 planes) & 24-40 Yak-130 in the advanced trainer/light support role to replace the aging Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet plus a deal for 20-25 Sukhoi Su-35 for air superiority role. The deal was encouraged by an effort by Russia to regain Egypt as an ally. However, these deals have not been confirmed yet.

Egypt had also made several deals with Ukrainian 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 is not clear whether the upgrade will include the insertion of the Kopyo Radar.^[14]^[15]^[16]

EAF will receive a new batch of F-16s . The new batch consists of 20 F-16s Block 52+ aircraft with associated support equipments and kits for JDAM bombs to upgrade the Mk-84 GP bombs already in service to the JDAM level.

Some unpublished news about Egypt managing a secret fighter project "Cairo-2000" since 1999, based on the Mirage-2000 with advanced light structure and a modified uprated AL-31FM2 engine, with upgraded RDY-2 Radar and a defence aid system to meet Egypt's tactical fighter replacement of the MIG-21/F-7 & Mirage-V.

The EAF today

Currently, the backbone of the EAF are 220 + 20 on order F-16's. The EAF also operates 19 Mirage 2000's. It continues to fly 32 upgraded F-4 Phantoms, 60 Dassault Mirage Vs, 26 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 facing restrictions regarding its plans to procure 5th generation fighters , air refueling capabilities and guided/precision munitions.

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 service^[17]^[18]	Comments
Fighter Aircraft
McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II	United States	Fighter bomber	F-4E	25^[19]	out of 46 delivered; 222nd Tac Fighter Bde at Cairo West.
Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States Turkey	Multirole fighter Lead-in trainer Multirole fighter Multirole fighter	Total F-16A F-16B F-16C F-16D	215 32 6 135 42 ^[19]	out of 220 delivered, 46 of the F-16C/D are license built by TAI of Turkey. + 20 F-16 C/D Block 52 requested in 2008 and approved in 2009. One F-16C crashed in June, 2010, in the City of Damietta. The pilot of the F-16 maneuvered away from the city by sacrificing his own life, the pilot died while parachuting. ^[20] ^[21]
Chengdu J-7 Airguard	China	Interceptor Multirole fighter	Total F-7B F-7M	53 27 26	out of 150 delivered,^[22]
Dassault Mirage 5	France	Lead-in trainer Air Defense Multirole fighter Reconnaissance	Total 5SDD 5E 5SDE 5DDR	60 6 12 36 6	Out of a total of 82 delivered ^[17].
Dassault Mirage 2000	France	Lead-in trainer Multirole fighter	Total 2000BM 2000EM	18 3 15^[19]	out of 20 delivered and assembled before production line closed, license built by Arab OI. More option from used UAE Mirage 2000-9
MiG 21	Soviet Union	Multirole fighter Interceptor Reconnaissance Lead-in trainer	Total MF PFM R UM	60 36 12 10 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 Ukrainian companies for the upgrade of 60 of these old fighters.^[19].
Trainer Aircraft
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet	France Germany	Operational conversion & COIN	Total MS1 MS2	44 30 14	license built by Arab OI. Consideration to be replaced by Yak-130.
Aero L-39 Albatros	Czechoslovakia	Advanced trainer	L-39ZO	10	ex-Libyan. To be phased out.
Aero L-59 Super Albatros	Czechoslovakia	Advanced trainer	L-59E	47	out of 48 delivered.
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).
Hiller UH-12	United States	Rotor Training	UH-12E	17	out of 18 delivered
Grob G-115	Germany	Primary trainer	G-115E	74
Hongdu K-8 Karakorum	China Pakistan	Advanced trainer	K-8E	120	110 of which are license built by Arab OI.
Zlin Z 142C	Czechoslovakia	Primary Trainer	Z 142 C	48
Transports
Antonov An-74	Ukraine	Tactical transport	An-74T-200	9	[1] in addition to 4 more in a deal signed in 2010 [2]
Antonov An-24	Ukraine	Maritime patrol	An-24	3
Beechcraft 1900	United States	Maritime patrol ELINT	1900C 1900C	6 2
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo	Canada	Tactical transport Navigational training	Total DHC-5D DHC-5D	9 5 4
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	Tactical transport Tactical transport 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	Navigational training 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 model were relegated to navigational training. New deal for additional 6 rebuilt CH-47D is in progress.
SH-2G Super 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 (10 active + 3 spares).
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.
Mil Mi-17	Russia	Assault	Mi-17H	27	Additional 24 were ordered in 2009 & being delivered as of 2010.
Boeing AH-64 Apache	United States	Attack/Gunship	AH-64D	35	An additional 10 AH-64D Longbow Block II are being delivered, ordered in 2008/9, & total modernization for the existing fleet is being held , making a total of 45 units.
Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk	United States	Assault	UH-60A	22	US surplus.
Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk	United States	Search-and-Rescue (SAR/CSAR) and Assault	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	26 5 17 4	A total of 28 were delivered, 2 MK2B version were relegated as VIP transport of the Presidential fleet.
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King	United States			28
Aérospatiale SA-342 Gazelle	France	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
E-2C Hawkeye	United States	AEW	E-2C HE2K	8	Egypt is in the process of upgrading its E-2C aircraft to the Hawkeye 2000 (HE2K) configuration.

Presidential and Governmental Fleet

An Egyptian Air Force DHC-5D

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

1 Airbus A340
4 Beechcraft King Air
1 Boeing 707
4 Boeing 737
3 Dassault Falcon 20
2 Gulfstream III
4 Gulfstream IV
1 VC-130H Hercules
2 Agusta AS-61 A-4 Sea King
2 Sikorsky S-70-21 Black Hawk
2 Westland Commando MK-2B

Obsolete and Retired Phased out of Service

42 Sukhoi Su-20C - Fighter Bomber out of 48 received (4 donated to China and 2 to the USA)
36 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 - Multi role Fighter out of 48 received (8 donated to China and 6 to the USA)
60 Sukhoi Su-7B - Ground Attack, out of 140 received
80 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 - Fighter and Ground Attack, out of 480 received
19 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 - Strike Fighter, out of 145 delivered
40 Shenyang F-6 - Chinese copy of MiG-19 Interceptor Fighter, out of 72 received ( Some internet rumors suggest they had been phased out from service and donated to the Sudanese Air Force in early 2000s )
6 FT-6 - Chinese copy of MiG-19 Advanced Trainer, out of 18 received
9 Tupolev Tu-16 - Heavy and Long Range Bomber, out of 30 received
12 Ilyushin Il-28 - Light Bomber and Maritime Patrol/reconnaissance, out 80 received
12 Antonov An-12 - out of 32 received
45 Aero L-29 Delfin - Basic Trainer, out of 120 received
9 Mil Mi-6 - Heavy transport helicopter, out of 20 received
12 Mil Mi-4 - Utility transport helicopter, out of 70 received

Commanders

The following individuals have had command of the Egyptian Air Force:^[23]

Royal Egyptian Air Force commanders

1932 to 1936 Squadron Leader Victor Hubert Tait^[24]^[25]
list incomplete
6 July 1939 to 20 August 1939 Ali Islam^[26]
20 August 1939 to 21 October 1940 Hassan Mohammed Abdel Wahab^[27]
21 October 1940 to 4 October 1942 Ali Muwafi^[28]
4 October 1942 to 4 November 1944 Hassan Hosni Taher^[29]
list incomplete