Egyptian Air Force
The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) (Egyptian Arabic: القوات الجوية المصرية, romanized: El Qūwāt El Gawīyä El Maṣrīya, Coptic: Ⲛⲉⲛⲡⲉⲧϩⲁⲗⲁⲓⲛⲙⲓϣⲓ ⲛ̀ⲕⲏⲙⲓ), is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces that 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 Mahmoud Fouad Abdel-Gawad. 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). It was known as the Royal Egyptian Air Force until 18 June 1953 following the declaration of the Republic of Egypt by Muhammad Naguib.
| Egyptian Air Force | |
|---|---|
| |
Badge of the Egyptian Air Force | |
| Founded | Part of the Egyptian Army in 1932, an independent service arm in 1937 (92 years) |
| Country | Egypt |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 30,000 active personnel 20,000 reserve personnel 50,000 total personnel 1,069 aircraft |
| Part of | Egyptian Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Heliopolis, Cairo |
| Motto(s) |
|
| Colours | |
| March | أغنية للقوات الجوية (Air Force Song) |
| Mascot(s) | Golden eagle |
| Anniversaries | 14 October |
| Engagements | List of conflicts in Egypt
|
| Website | www.mod.gov.eg |
| Commanders | |
| Commander of the Air Force | Air Marshal Mahmoud Fouad Abdel-Gawad |
| Chief of Air Staff | Air Vice Marshal Hisham Awad |
| Notable commanders | Hosni Mubarak Ahmed Shafik Reda Hafez |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel | |
| Fin flash | |
| Flag | |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Alpha jet |
| Electronic warfare | E-2HE2K, Commando Mk.2E |
| Fighter | F-16 Fighting Falcon, Mirage 2000, Rafale, MiG-29M |
| Attack helicopter | Ka-52 Alligator, AH-64 Apache, Mil Mi-17, Aérospatiale Gazelle SA-342 |
| Patrol | Beechcraft 1900 |
| Reconnaissance | M-324, Mirage 5 |
| Trainer | K-8, EMB 312, G-115, UH-12 |
| Transport | C-130 Hercules, C-295, An-74 |
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. In recent years the Air Force has acted in the Sinai insurgency, the Second Libyan Civil War and the Intervention in the Yemen.
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 2023 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.