Egypt - Air Force

Line up of EAF aircraft during the opening of Bernice airbase (Ras Banas) in 2020.

EAF Defense Portal

Shot of Mi-8T (91 Sqn) taken at Ismaïla airbase. In the background left two EMB312 Tucanos and in the middle two AT-802 Air Tractors and a EMB312 Tucano.

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Two Air Wings (548 and 301 Air Wing) of the EAF are flying with SA-342L HOT Gazelle helicopters in six squadrons. For anti tank missions 548 AW (10 sq, 15 sq, 17 sq) is based at Abu Sultan. For helicopter training 301 Air Wing is based at Bilbeis with 54 sq and two other squadrons (30 sq and 56 sq) are stationed at Kibrit, along the Suez Canal.

US Army/US Embassy

A canceled order resulted in just the purchase of three AN-74T-200's. All transport aircraft are flying in 2 squadron, 533 Air Wing from Cairo East.

Igor Bubin

In 2015 the United Arab Emirates donated 12 armed AT-802 Air Tractors for Counter Insurgency (COIN) missions. 102 Tactical Air Wing was established with 26 squadron at Ismailia to fly the AT-802. Detachments of the AT-802 are based at Milaz (Sinai) and Aswan (Southern Egypt).

EAF Defense Portal

The Mi-8T is still operated in small numbers. Most Mi-8's are replaced by Mi-17's in 544 and 547 Air Wing.

Ruud Fopma

Alpha Jets are still operational in 308 Close Air Support TFW in two squadrons (57 TFS and 58 TFS) at El Mansoura. They are mainly used for pilot training and for ground attack missions.

Mat Herben

The AW149 will replace the Commandos from 11 Sqn and the SA-342s from 14 Sqn from 545 Air Wing (for Naval operations). Most of the helicopters of 14 Sqn are stationed at the two helicopter vessels of the Egyptian Navy: ENS Gamal Abdel Nasser and ENS Anwar el Sadat.

Fabrizio Capenti

The backbone of the fighting capacity is the amount of F-16's, flying in 5 Wings (11 squadrons). Seen is one of the 40 Block 32 F-16Cs in use in 242 TFW (68 TFS, 70 TFS) flying from Aswan and Beni Sueif.

Jos Hoogland

Also operating from Beni Suef is 544 Air Wing flying Mi-17's. This Air Wing is also operating in Southern Egypt (Daraw, Hurghada, Bernice)

Neil Middleton

Grob G-115EG aircraft are being used for elemantary training in 101 Air Brigade at Bilbeis. Two squadrons (3 sq and 5sq) are equipped with 74 trainers.

Max Bryansky

K-8E trainers are being used as trainers in 201 Air Wing (28 and 29 sq) at Bilbeis, AF Academy. Another wing, 770 TFW Close Air Support, operates the K-8E in two close air support squadrons (94 TFS and 98 TFS) from El Minya.

Arnold ten Pas

Since 1994 in service of the Egyptian Air Force, operating on behalve of the Egyptian Navy, the SH-2EG Sea Sprite helicopter. The Sea Sprites are flying under 545 Air Wing, 37 Squadron and are based at Borg al Arab or on board of Egyptian navy vessels.

EAF Defense Portal

Since 2017, the EAF operates 12 former Mongolian Air Force Mi-24V's in 43 Squadron, 549 Air Wing from Borg al Arab.

EAF Defense Portal

For medium transport duties, the EAF can rely on 533 Air Wing, flying 24 Casa C295M's in two squadrons (2 sq and 8 sq) from Cairo East.

Neil Dunridge

The EAF acquired 10 Beech 1900 Special Mission aircraft for ELINT duties. All Beech 1900 aircraft are flown by 38 squadron, based at Almaza

F Seggie

Twenty-five C-130s were delivered to the Egypt Air Force. They are operated by both 4sq and 16sq at Cairo East.

Arjen Sleeuwenhoek

Two former Royal Jordanian Air Force Il-76MF Candids were taken over in 2019. Both heavy transport aircraft are flying in 516 Air Wing at Cairo East in an independent transport flight.

EAF Defense Portal

Latest version in the Egyptian F-16 family is the Block 52, twenty were obtained. All F-16C/D Block 52 are flying in 292 TFW (95 TFS and 97 TFS) from Cairo West.

EAF Defense Portal

For Early Warning missions, the EAF acquired 11 E-2C Hawkeye AWACS aircraft. Ten E-2C's are flying in 601 Air Wing (87 sq) from Cairo West.

EAF Defense Portal

The most advanced fighter in the EAF inventory are 36 French Rafale DM/EM fighters, equipping 203rd TFW (34 TFS and 36 TFS) at Gebel el Basur. An second order for more Rafales has been placed.

Swingwing

Also flying from Gebel el Basur, are 19 Mirage 2000 EM/BM fighters from 252 TFW, 82 TFS. Seen here is a Mirage 2000BM taking off.

EAF Defense Portal

The EAF acquired 8 Leonardo AW189 helicopters. It is assumed that these AW189s are operating in 7 (VIP) Squadron, 546 Air Wing, from Almaza.

dj Marck

A glimpse of the rarely seen EMB-312 Tucano in Egyptian Air Force service. Used as a trainer for AT-802 pilots, two squadrons are flying the Tucanos in 102 Tactical Air Wing from Inshas (25 sq) and Hurghada (35 sq).

US Army/US Embassy

The EAF operates the CH-47D Chinook in two squadrons (18 sq and 33 sq) from Kom Awshim. 18 Squadron is part of 546 Air Wing, while 33 Squadron seems to be a training or conversion unit.

Dmitriy Pichugin

Latest acquisition of the EAF, the E June 30 UAV, a drone based on the Emirati Yabhon Flash-20 UAV. This type is flown by 6 squadron (700 Air Wing) from Kom Awshim.

Mahmoud Gamal

Still going strong since 1976, the Westland Command Mk2, operating in one squadron, 12 Sqn from 546 Air Wing from Almaza for assault missions.

EAF Defense Portal

The F-16A/B's Block 15, were upgraded to F-16C/D's Block 40. The first F-16 wing, 232 TFW (72 TFS and 74 TFS) moved from Inshas to Mersa Matruh in 2017.

Erwin van Dijkman

From 2017 on, the EAF is flying 46 MiG-29M2's in 104 TFW (42 TFS and 44 TFS) from Wadi Abu Rish, tasked with air defence missions over southern Egypt.

EAF Defense Portal

The Wing Loong II UCAS are in Egyptian service since 2019. At least two squadron (20 sq and 22 sq) under 702 Air Wing operates these drones from Dakhla, Uthman and Milaz (Sinaï).

EAF Defense Portal

The EAF is flying 50 Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters in 549 Air Wing (39 sq, 40 sq and 41 sq) at Wadi al Jandali (Khattamia).

EAF Defense Portal

Workhorse of the EAF, the C-130H, operated in two squadrons (4 sq and 16 sq) from 516 Air Wing at Cairo East. The Egyptian Herks can happily often be spotted in Europe.

Mark Remmel