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Egyptian Army

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File:DN-ST-92-08940-C.jpg
Egyptian troops with other Arab-Joint-Forces during Gulf War

The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch 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 Arab World and Africa. See List of countries by number of active troops

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

Structure

  • HQ, Operations Authority: Cairo
    • HQ, Army Chief of Staff: Cairo
      • HQ, Central Military Region: Cairo
        • HQ, First Field Army: Cairo
        • HQ, Second Field Army: Ismaelia
        • HQ, Third Field Army: Suez
      • HQ, Western Military Region: Sidi Barrani (IISS: Mersa Matruh)
      • HQ, Northern Military Region: Alexandria
      • HQ, Southern Military Region: Assiut (IISS: Aswan)

Order of Battle

The 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. During the late 1980s, the force was equipped with remote sensors, night-vision binoculars, communications vehicles, and high-speed motorboats.

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 Divisions during the October 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 Divisions during the October 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 Special Forces Commando (Saaeqa: Lightning) Groups.
  • 15 Independent Field Artillery Brigades.
  • 2 Heavy Mortar Brigades.
  • 6 ATGW Brigades.
  • 2 Tactical SSM Brigades, comprising:
    • 5 Batteries of Tactical Ballistic Missile System FROG-7
    • 5 Batteries of Tactical Ballistic Missile System Sakr-80
    • 4 Batteries of Theater Ballistic Missile System Scud-B
    • 2 Batteries of Theater Ballistic Missile System Scud-C
    • 2 Batteries of Theater Ballistic Missile System Project-T
    • 1 Battery of Short Range Ballistic Missile System Al Badr 2000 (better known as an enhanced Scud-C variant)(Not the cancelled Badr 2000/Condor 2 Project with Argentina)
    • 1 Battery of Short Range Ballistic Missile System (MRBM) Nodong-1

Weapons Inventory

Light Weapons

Pistols

Assault Rifles

Paratroopers Carabines

Machine Guns

Submachine Guns

Sniper Rifle

Crew Served

Heavy Machine Guns

Grenade Launchers

Recoilless Rifles

Anti Tank Weapon Systems

  • Milan II wire-guided anti-armor missile system (220)
  • Swingfire wire-guided anti-armor missile system (260) (locally made)
  • BGM-71 TOW wire-guided anti-armor missile system (270)
  • BGM-71 TOW II wire-guided anti-armor missile system (540)
  • AT-3 Sagger upgraded wire-guided anti-armor missile system (1400) (locally upgraded)

Combat Vehicles

Main Battle Tanks

  • M1A1 MBT (1005) (see Note 1)[1]
  • M60A3 MBT (1,700) (see Note 2)
  • T-62 MBT (500) (see Note 3)
  • T-55 MBT (390) (see Note 4)
  • Ramses II MBT (260) (see Note 5)

Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles

Tracked
  • YPR-765 PRCO-B, PRCO-C-1/2/5, PRRDR, PRRDR-C & PRGWT (997)
  • BMP-1 (220)
  • EIFV (Egyptian AIFV variant of the M113) (300) (plus option for an additional 900)
Wheeled
  • Fahd 280-30 4X4 IFVs upgraded with BMP-2 turrets (165)(Locally built)
  • Fahd 280 4X4 IFV with B-208 French Turret (235) (Locally built)

Armored Personnel Carrier

Tracked
  • Upgraded BTR-50 PK (200)
  • BTR-50 PKM (100)
  • Upgraded OT-62 TOPAS (300)
  • M113A-2/A-3 (2116)
  • M577A3 Command Post (52)
  • M1058A2 EWC (72)
  • M548A3 Cargo Carrier (290)
  • M1068A2 Standard Integrated Command Post (84)
  • M1059A3 Lynx Smoke Generator (36)
  • K-61 Tracked Amphibious Troop/Cargo Carrier (180)
  • PTS-M Heavy Tracked Amphibious Troop/Cargo Carrier (170)
  • PTS-2 Heavy Tracked Amphibious Troop/Cargo Carrier (180)
Wheeled
  • Kader-320 4X4 (560) (Locally built)
  • Tiger Kader-120 4X4 (350) (Locally built)
  • Fahd 280 4X4 (635) (Locally built)
  • Fahd 280 4X4 Command Post (140) (Locally built)
  • RG-32 4X4 (112)
  • Walid 4X4 Carrier/Cargo Carrier/Ambulance/Smoke Generator (800)
  • BMR-600 6X6 (260)
  • Hotspur HUSSARD 6X6 (110)
  • BTR-152 6X6 (675)
  • Upgraded BTR-60 8X8 (250)
  • Upgraded OT-64 SKOT 2/2A 8X8 (300)

Mechanized Anti Tank Armored Vehicles

Tracked

Armored Reconnaissance and Scout

Wheeled
  • BRDM-2 4X4 Reconnaissance Armored Vehicle/ATGW Carrier (300)
  • Commando Scout 4X4 Reconnaissance Scout (112)
  • Kader-320 4X4 Reconnaissance Scout (Locally built) (140)
  • Tiger Kader-120 4X4 Reconnaissance Scout (Locally built) (150)

Logistic & Engineering Armored Vehicles

  • M728 Tracket CEV (72)
  • M88A2 Tracket ARV (126)
  • BTS-4A Tracket ARV (72)
  • BREM-1 Tracket ARV (36)
  • M578 Tracket Light ARV (72)
  • Fahd 280 4X4 Light ARV (124)
  • MDK-2M Ditcher (48)
  • PZM-2 Ditcher (36)
  • BAT-2 Route clearer (72)
  • M9 ACE Armored Demolition Caterpillar (120)
  • Caterpillar D9 (250)
  • Caterpillar D7 (240)
  • TPP Tracked Pontoom Bridge (94)
  • PRG Motorized Bridge (112)
  • PMP Heavy Folding Pontoon Bridging Systems (92)
  • PMM-2 Amphibious Tracked Bridging System (76)
  • GSP Heavy Amphibious Troop/Cargo Transport Ferry (126)
  • KMM Motorized Bridge Layer (medium) on Zil-157 truck (120)
  • TMM-3 Motorized Bridge Layer (heavy) on KrAZ-255B 6X6 truck (196)
  • M60A1 AVLB Tracked Bridge Layer (48)
  • MT-55 K/L Tracked Bridge Layer (56)
  • MTU-20 Tank Launched Bridge (78)
  • M104 Wolverine Heavy Assault Bridge (24)
  • BMK-T Bridging Boats (48)
  • BMK-130M Bridging Boats (48)
  • BMK-150M Bridging Boats (36)
  • Nather-1 Mine Carpet Clearing System (140)
  • Nather-2 Mine Carpet Clearing System (120)
  • Fateh 2/3/4 Anti Tank Rocket Clearing System (340)

All Terrain Logistic Vehicles

Artillery

Short Range Ballistic Missiles

  • Nodong Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (Range: 1500 km) (24 units/6 launchers)
  • Al Badr 2000 an enhanced Scud C Short Range Ballistic Missiles (Range: 1200-1500 km) (24 units/6 launchers)

Theater Ballistic Missiles

  • Scud-C Short Range Ballistic Missiles (Range: 550 km) (48 units/12 launchers)
  • Project-T Short Range Ballistic Missiles (Range: 450 km) (72 units/18 launchers)
  • Scud-B Short Range Ballistic Missiles (Range: 300 km) (96 units/24 launchers)

Tactical Ballistic Missiles

  • Sakr-80 Long range Battlefield Rockets (Range: 80 km) (360 units/60 launchers [2 missiles per launchers])
  • FROG-7 Long range Battlefield Rockets (Range: 70 km) (288 units/48 launchers)

Self Propelled Artillery

  • M109A1/A2 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (365)
  • M109A5 155 mm self-propelled howitzer (201)
  • SPH 122 mm 122 mm self-propelled howitzer (D-30 howitzer on M109 A2 chassis)(Locally assembled) (124)
  • SPH 122 mm self-propelled howitzer (D-30 howitzer on T-55 chassis)(Locally assembled)(76)
  • M110A2 203mm self-propelled howitzer (144)[2]

Self Propelled Mortars

  • M1064A3 self-propelled M120 120 mm mortar carrier (140)
  • M125A2 self-propelled M29 81 mm mortar carrier (260)
  • M106A2 self-propelled M30 107 mm mortar carrier (100)

Towed Field Artillery

Howitzers
  • GH 52 155 mm towed howitzer w/APU (400)(Being manufactured locally under license)
  • D-20 152 mm towed gun howitzer (150)
  • D-30 122 mm towed howitzer (600)(Manufactured locally - production as needed)
  • Type 60 122 mm towed howitzer (148)
Field Guns
  • M-46 130 mm towed field gun (420) (Manufactured locally - production as needed)
  • Type 59-1M 130 mm towed field gun (150)
  • D-74 122 mm towed field gun (144)
  • M1944 100 mm towed field gun (200)

Towed Mortars

Heavy Mortars
Medium Mortars
Light Mortars
  • M224 Mortar 60 mm mortar system (1800)
  • Helwan 60 mm Egyptian modified variant of the Chinese Type 63-1 (1500)

Training Artillery

Howitzers
  • M-30 122 mm towed howitzer (200)
  • ML-20 152 mm towed howitzer (100)
Field Guns

Stowed Artillery

  • D-20 152 mm field towed gun howitzer (120)
  • D-1 152 mm towed howitzer (150)
  • ML-20 152 mm towed howitzer (100)
  • M-30 122 mm towed howitzer (150)

Multiple Launchers Rocket Systems

  • M-51 130 mm towed non-guided rocket system of 32 tube arranged in 4 rows of 8: Range 8.2 km (260 Launcher Units)
  • BM-21 122 mm non-guided rocket system of 40 tube arranged in 4 rows of 10: Range: 20.8 km (60 Launcher Units)
  • BM-11: North Korean version of the BM-21 non-guided rocket system of 30 tubes arranged in 2 rows of 15: Range: 20.8 km (40 Launcher Units)
  • Sakr-4:122 mm non-guided rocket system of a single tube based on a tripod stand: Range: 4 km, Egyptian modified version of the BM-11 (120 Launcher Units)
  • Sakr-8:122 mm non-guided rocket system of 2 tubes based on a tripod stand or a Jeep: Range: 8 km, Egyptian modified version of the BM-11 (120 Launcher Units)
  • Sakr-10:122 mm non-guided rocket system of 4 tubes arranged in 2 rows of 2: Range: 10 km, Egyptian modified version of the BM-11 (120 Launcher Units)
  • Sakr-18:122 mm non-guided rocket system of 30 tubes arranged in 4 rows of 10: Range: 20.8 km, Egyptian modified version of the BM-11 (80 Launcher Units)
  • Sakr-30:122 mm non-guided rocket system of 30 tubes arranged in 3 rows of 10: Range: 30 km, Egyptian modified version of the BM-21(120 Launcher Units)
  • Sakr-36:122 mm non-guided rocket system of 40 tubes arranged in 4 rows of 10: Range: 36 km, enhanced range Egyptian modified version of the BM-21(100 Launcher Units)
  • Sakr-45: 227 mm battlefield rocket system, Range: 45 km, Egyptian licensed built version of the M270 rocket combined with the traditional Sakr-36 6X6 launching truck system of 12 tubes arranged in 2 rows of 6 (40 Launcher Units)
  • M270: 227 mm battlefield rocket system of 12 tubes arranged in 2 rows of 6: (48 Launcher Units)
    • Range with M26 rocket ammunition: 32 km
    • Range with M26A1/A2 ammunition: 45 km
    • Range with M30 ammunition: 45 km

Army Air Defense Systems

Surface to Air Missile Systems

MANPADS
  • Sakr Eye Egyptian modified version of the SA-7 MANPAD short range SAM (2500+)
  • Stinger MANPAD short range SAM (1800)
Self Propelled SAM Systems
  • SA-9 SP quadruple short range SAM (20)
  • M1097 Avenger - forward area mobile short range air defense system w/Stinger SAM (50)
  • MIM-72/M48 Chaparral - forward area mobile short range surface-to-air guided missile systems (112)
  • Crotale - forward area mobile short-range surface-to-air missile systems (144)
  • ( SA-15 Gauntlet-Tor-M) - Medium Range SAM ( Delivery started in 2005)
  • ( SA-17 Grizzly- Buk-M1-2)-- Medium Range SAM ( Delivery started in 2005)
Stationary/Towed SAM Systems
  • Skyguard - Stationary radar guided short range medium altitude gun/missile system, combining Oerlikon-Contraves 35 mm twin AA guns with a quad Aspide 2000 medium range surface-to-air guided missiles (40)

Anti Air Gun Systems

Self Propelled AA Gun Systems
  • BTR-152/M53 - self-propelled quad M53 12.7 mm AA gun system (120)
  • M163 A2 - self-propelled sextuple 20 mm chain gun system on M113 carrier (52)
  • Nile 23 twin 23 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns radar guided (250)(Upgraded Egyptian version of the ZU-23-2 on M113)
  • Sinai 23 twin 23 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns radar guided w/Sakr Eye AAM (72) (Upgraded version of the ZU-23-2 with added SAM capability on M113)
  • ZSU-23-4 self-propelled quadruple 23 mm anti-aircraft gun system (218) with upgraded radar guidance
  • BTR-152/M59 - self-propelled twin BTR-152/M59 30 mm AA gun system (100)
  • ZSU-57-2 self-propelled twin 57 mm anti-aircraft gun system (190) with upgraded radar guidance
Towed AA Gun Systems
  • M167 A3- towed sextuple 20 mm chain gun system (72)
  • ZPU-2 twin 14.5 mm stationary or towed AA gun system (250)
  • ZPU-4 quadruple 14.5 mm stationary or towed AA gun system (200)
  • ZU-23-2 upgraded twin 23 mm stationary or towed radar guided AA gun system (280)
  • Oerlikon-Contraves stationary/towed 35 mm twin radar guided AA guns (72)
  • M1939 37 mm anti-aircraft guns with upgraded radar guidance (400)
  • S-60 57 mm anti-aircraft guns with upgraded radar guidance (300)
  • M1939 85 mm anti-aircraft guns with upgraded radar guidance (250)
  • KS-19 100 mm anti-aircraft guns with upgraded radar guidance (150)
  • KS-30 130 mm anti-aircraft guns with upgraded radar guidance (120)

Notes

  1. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2006, p.183
  2. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2006, p.183
  3. ^ Historical Notes and Scenarios Booklet, Suez '73: The Battle of the Chinese Farm (boardgame), Game Designers' Workshop, 1981
  • 1) M1A1 (69.5 tons): assembled locally in four phases so far:
    • Phase I (1989-1998): 555
    • Phase II (1999-2004): 200
    • Phase III (2004-2007): 125
    • Phase IV (2007-2009):125. All to be upgraded to M1A2 SEP standard by end of 2009.
  • 2) M60A3 MBT (57.8 tons): 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 diesel engine of 1080 hp output, modern fire control & ballistics computers, infrared devices, modern laser range-finders, and added armor including reactive armor & better suspension . Not all conversions have been done, they are to be done by the end of 2008. A further conversion to the M60A3 is scheduled between 2009 and 2012 to about 1000 tanks out of the current fleet of 1700, to replace the current turret with the M1A1 turret with a major uparmoring of the chassis and replace the transmission and suspenssion systems with a better one to suite the added weight of the tank. Armor platting will be covering the front, back and the side skirts. A German 1500 HP diesel engine will be replacing the current one, and the main armament will be the 120 mm smooth bore found on the M1A1. This will eventually increse the weight of the tank to 65 tons.
  • 3) T-62 MBT (45 tons): out of over 1300 remaining in 1980s. Refurbished and modernized with German engines of 880 hp output, M68 105 mm gun, Italian fire control & ballistics computers, infrared devices, laser range-finders & stabilizers, modernized suspension, mounts 6 smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret, has NBC protection and added armor and has armored side skirts. They also carry two egyptian-made anti-tank rockets in two single canisters on each side of the turret. Conversions should be done by the end of 2008.
  • 4) T-55 MBT (44 tons) : out of over 1650 remaining in 1980s. Refurbished and modernized with German engines of 880 hp output, M68 105 mm gun, Italian Fire control & ballistics computers, Infrared devices, Laser ranger-finders & stabilizers, modernized suspension, mounts 6 smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret. Has NBC protection and added armor protection and has armored side skirts. Conversions should be done by the end of 2008. Some reports state that a further 140-160 out of the remaining 390 T-55 MBT will be converted to Ramses II MBT conversions instead.
  • 5) Ramses II MBT (48 tons): In November 1984, Teledyne Continental Motors (taken over by General Dynamics Land Systems) of the USA was awarded a contract to upgrade the firepower and mobility of a single T-54 tank. This was originally called the T-54E but was subsequently renamed Ramses II. The first prototype of the Ramses II was sent to Egypt for extensive firepower and mobility trials in January 1987 and these were completed in late 1987. Late in 1989, Egypt signed a technical assistance agreement with TCM to support the continued Egyptian testing of the Ramses II, with testing commencing in the summer of 1990. The tank finally entered production/conversion in 2004-2005 with 260 units so far modified from the stock of the T-54 available in the Egyptian Army arsenal. The upgrades and modifications resulted in an increase in the weight of the tank to 48 tons.
  • 6) The Egyptian ballistic missile development program apparently continues, however, primarily as an Air Force sponsored research program rather than a production development program. The RS-120 Tactical Ballistic Missile Program is still in the developmental stage and should be shortly replacing the Frog-7 and supplementing the Sakr 80; by having a range of 120 km, it would be considered as an intermediate system between the Tactical Ballistic Missiles and the Theater Ballistic Missile Systems. Should, however, there be a dramatic change in its political climate and financial resources, Egypt possesses the technological and personnel resources to produce a Scud B/C, or possibly Nodong, equivalent missile.

References

See also

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