Egyptian Army

Egyptian Army
Egyptian Army Insignia
Country	Egypt
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	310,000 active
March	"We painted on the heart the face of our nation" (Arabic: رسمنا على القلب وجه الوطن‎‎, rasamna ala al qalb wagh al watan)
Commanders
Second Field Army	Major General Mohammed el-Shahat
Third Field Army	Major General Osama Askar

The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces, and is the largest army in Africa.

The modern army was established during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha (1805-1849), who is considered to be the "founder of modern Egypt". Its most significant engagements in the 20th Century were in Egypt's five wars with the State of Israel (in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1967-1970, and 1973), one of which, the Suez Crisis of 1956, also saw it do combat with the armies of Britain, and France. The Egyptian army was also engaged heavily in the protracted North Yemen Civil War, and the brief Libyan-Egyptian War in July 1977. Its last major engagements was Operation Desert Storm, the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991, in which Egyptian army constituted the second largest contingent of allied forces.

As of 2014, the army has an estimated strength of 310,000 soldiers, of which, approx. 90-120,000 are professionals with the rest being conscripts.

History

For military arrangements in antiquity, see Military history of Ancient Egypt.

The Hyksos of Ancient Egypt drove chariots

For most parts of its long history, ancient Egypt was unified under one government. The main military concern for the nation was to keep enemies out. The arid plains they wanted to get rid of and deserts surrounding Egypt were inhabited by nomadic tribes who occasionally tried to raid or settle in the fertile Nile river valley. Nevertheless, the great expanses of the desert formed a barrier that protected the river valley and was almost impossible for massive armies to cross. The Egyptians built fortresses and outposts along the borders east and west of the Nile Delta, in the Eastern Desert, and in Nubia to the south. Small garrisons could prevent minor incursions, but if a large force was detected a message was sent for the main army corps. Most Egyptian cities lacked city walls and other defenses.

The history of ancient Egypt is divided into three kingdoms and two intermediate periods. During the three Kingdoms Egypt was unified under one government. During the Intermediate periods (the periods of time between Kingdoms) government control was in the hands of the various nomes (provinces within Egypt) and various foreigners. The geography of Egypt served to isolate the country and allowed it to thrive. This circumstance set the stage for many of Egypt's military conquests. They weakened their enemies by using small projectile weapons, like bows and arrows. They also had chariots which they used to charge at the enemy.

Under the Muhammad Ali Dynasty

Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt displaying his army and navy 1830-1848

Following his seizure of power in Egypt, and declaration of himself as Khedive of the country, Muhammad Ali Pasha set about establishing a bona fide Egyptian military. Prior to his rule, Egypt had been governed by the Ottoman Empire, and while he still technically owed fealty to the Ottoman Porte, Muhammad Ali sought to gain full independence for Egypt. To further this aim, he brought in European weapons and expertise, and built an army that defeated the Ottoman Sultan, wresting control from the Porte of the Levant, and Hejaz. The Egyptian Army was involved in the following wars during Muhammad Ali's reign:

• Greek War of Independence
• Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)
• Egyptian–Ottoman War (1839–1841)

In addition, he utilised his army to conquer Sudan, and unite it with Egypt.

Egypt was involved in the long-running 1881-99 Mahdist War in the Sudan.

The Making of a Professional Army

King Farouk I of Egypt inspecting small army units in Abdeen Square.

During Muhammad Ali Pasha's reign, the Egyptian army became a much more strictly regimented and professional army. The recruits were separated from daily civilian life and a sense of the impersonal of law was imposed. The new recruits were also drawn from the Egyptian farmers (the fellah), not from Sudanese slaves or Mamluks.

In previous times, the wives and family were allowed to follow the army as they were camped out. This was no longer the case. Isolating the recruits in barracks, military schools and training camps was the first essential step towards the creation of the professional, disciplined force of soldiers.

Inside these barracks, soldiers were also subjected to new practices. The rules and regulations were not made to inflict punishment on the recruits but rather to impose a sense of respect for the law; the threat of punishment was enough to keep them in line and from deserting. The roll-call was taken twice a day and those found missing would be declared deserters and would have to face the punishment for their actions. Troops were kept busy to prevent the men from being left idle in the camps. The trivial tasks that filled the soldiers live was an attempt to keep the men constantly engaged in useful tasks and not thinking about leaving.

Passing laws with a strict punishment regime was not sufficient for the soldiers to internalize the different army regulations that they were asked to obey. For this to succeed these soldiers had to be interned and isolated from outside influences. They then had to be taught to follow rules and regulations that came with army life. This process helped to transform the fellah into disciplined soldiers.

After the Egyptian Revolution of 1952

Members of the Free Officers gathered after the revolution. From left to right: Zakaria Mohieddin, Abdel Latif Boghdadi, Kamel el-Din Hussein, Gamal Abdel Nasser (seated), Abdel Hakim Amer, Muhammad Naguib, Youssef Seddik and Ahmed Shawki

After the defeat of the Egyptian army in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, a revolutionary organisation was created secretly by the Egyptian officers under the name of Free Officers. This Free Officers, led by Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser, overthrew King Farouk in the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. The Free Officers then forced the British troops based in the Suez Canal to leave Egypt in what became known later as Anglo - Egyptian Treaty (1954), marking the end of Britain's military presence in Egypt. During the Cold War, the army actively fought in the Suez Crisis, known in Egypt and the Arab World as the Tripartite Aggression, the North Yemen Civil War from 1962 to 1967, and the 1967 Six Day War.

Just before the Suez Crisis, politics rather than military competence was the main criterion for promotion. The Egyptian commander, Field Marshal Abdel Hakim Amer, was a purely political appointee who owed his position to his close friendship with Nasser. A heavy drinker, he would prove himself grossly incompetent as a general during the Crisis. Rigid lines between officers and men in the Egyptian Army led to a mutual "mistrust and contempt" between officers and the men who served under them. Egyptian troops were excellent in defensive operations, but had little capacity for offensive operations, owing to the lack of "rapport and effective small-unit leadership".

The North Yemen Civil War

Egyptian army in sanaa 1962.

Within three months of sending troops to Yemen in 1962, Nasser realized that this would require a larger commitment than anticipated. By early 1963, he would begin a four-year quest to extricate Egyptian forces from Yemen, using an unsuccessful face-saving mechanism, only to find himself committing more troops. A little less than 5,000 troops were sent in October 1962. Two months later, Egypt had 15,000 regular troops deployed. By late 1963, the number was increased to 36,000; and in late 1964, the number rose to 50,000 Egyptian troops in Yemen. Late 1965 represented the high-water mark of Egyptian troop commitment in Yemen at 55,000 troops, which were broken into 13 infantry regiments of one artillery division, one tank division and several Special Forces as well as airborne regiments. All the Egyptian field commanders complained of a total lack of topographical maps causing a real problem in the first months of the war.

The Six Day War

On 22 May 1967, President Nasser addressed his pilots at Bir Gafgafa airbase in Sinai: "The Jews are threatening war – we say to them ahlan wa-sahlan (welcome)!

Before the June 1967 War, the army divided its personnel into four regional commands (Suez, Sinai, Nile Delta, and Nile Valley up to the Sudan). The remainder of Egypt's territory, over 75%, was the sole responsibility of the Frontier Corps.

In May 1967, Nasser closed the Straits of Tiran to passage of Israeli ships. On 26 May Nasser declared, "The battle will be a general one and our basic objective will be to destroy Israel". Israel considered the Straits of Tiran closure a Casus belli. The Egyptian army now comprised two armoured and five infantry divisions, all deployed in the Sinai.

In the weeks before Six Day War began, Egypt made several significant changes to its military organisation. Field Marshal Amer created a new command interposed between the general staff and the Eastern Military District commander, Lieutenant General Salah ad-Din Muhsin. This new Sinai Front Command was placed under General Abdel Mohsin Murtagi, who had returned from Yemen in May 1967. Six of the seven divisions in the Sinai (with the exception of the 20th Infantry 'Palestinian' Division) had their commanders and chiefs of staff replaced. What fragmentary information is available suggests to authors such as Pollack that Amer was trying to improve the competence of the force, replacing political appointees with veterans of the Yemen war.

After the war began on 5 June 1967, Israel attacked Egypt and occupied the Sinai Peninsula. The forward deployed Egyptian forces were shattered in three places by the attacking Israelis, and a retreat to the mountain passes fifty miles east of the Canal was ordered. This developed into a rout as the Israelis harried the retreating troops from the ground and from the air.

Presidents Sadat and Mubarak

Egyptian soldiers on the east bank. Notice the carts. Pulled by two men, these transports greatly assisted in the movement of weapons and matériel on the east bank, while no vehicles had yet crossed.

After the 1967 debacle, the army was reorganised into two field armies, the Second Army and the Third Army, both of which were stationed in the eastern part of the country.

The October War of 1973 began with a massive and successful Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal. After crossing the cease-fire lines, Egyptian forces advanced virtually unopposed into the Sinai Peninsula. The Syrians coordinated their attack on the Golan Heights to coincide with the Egyptian offensive and initially made threatening gains into Israeli-held territory. As Egyptian president Anwar Sadat began to worry about Syria's fortunes, he believed that capturing two strategic mountain passes located deeper in the Sinai would make his position stronger during the negotiations. He therefore ordered the Egyptians to go back on the offensive, but the attack was quickly repulsed. The Israelis then counterattacked at the juncture of the Second and Third Armies, crossed the Suez Canal into Egypt, and began slowly advancing southward and westward in over a week of heavy fighting which inflicted heavy casualties on both sides.

On October 22 a United Nations-brokered ceasefire quickly unraveled, with each side blaming the other for the breach. By October 24, the Israelis had improved their positions considerably and completed their encirclement of Egypt's Third Army and the city of Suez. This development led to tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. As a result, a second ceasefire was imposed cooperatively on October 25 to end the war. At the conclusion of hostilities, Israeli forces were just 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Damascus and 101 kilometres (63 mi) from Cairo.

Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal on October 7

Egypt claimed victory in the Yom Kippur War because its military objective of capturing a foothold of Sinai was achieved. The army had an estimated strength of 320,000 in 1989. About 180,000 of these were conscripts. Beyond the Second Army and Third Army in the east, most of the remaining troops were stationed in the Nile Delta region, around the upper Nile, and along the Libyan border. These troops were organized into eight military districts. Commando and airborne units were stationed near Cairo under central control but could be transferred quickly to one of the field armies if needed. District commanders, who generally held the rank of major general, maintained liaison with governors and other civil authorities on matters of domestic security.

After 1967 the army fought in the 1969-1970 War of Attrition, the 1973 October War, and the 1977 Libyan-Egyptian War.

Decision making in the army continued to be highly centralized during the 1980s. Officers below brigade level rarely made tactical decisions and required the approval of higher-ranking authorities before they modified any operations. Senior army officers were aware of this situation and began taking steps to encourage initiative at the lower levels of command. A shortage of well-trained enlisted personnel became a serious problem for the army as it adopted increasingly complex weapons systems. Observers estimated in 1986 that 75 percent of all conscripts were illiterate when they entered the military.

Egyptian soldiers man M-2 .50-caliber machine guns atop M-113 armored personnel carriers during a demonstration for visiting dignitaries, part of Operation Desert Shield

Since the 1980s the army has built closer and closer ties with the United States, as evidenced in the bi-annual Operation Bright Star exercises. This cooperation eased integration of the Egyptian Army into the Gulf War coalition of 1990-91, during which the Egyptian II Corps under Maj. Gen. Salah Mohamed Attia Halaby, with 3rd Mechanised Division and 4th Armoured Division, fought as part of the Arab Joint Forces Command North.

The Army conducted Exercise Badr '96 in 1996 in the Sinai. The exercises in the Sinai were part of a larger exercise that involved 35,000 men in total.

Today conscripts without a college degree serve three years as enlisted soldiers. Conscripts with a General Secondary School Degree serve two years as enlisted soldiers. Conscripts with a college degree serve 14 months as enlisted or 27 months as a reserve officer.

On 31 January 2011, during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, Israeli media reported that the 9th, 2nd, and 7th Divisions of the Army had been ordered into Cairo to help restore order.

Structure

Under the Ministry of Defence (Egypt) is the Egyptian Military Operations Authority with its headquarters in Cairo. The Egyptian Armed Forces' Chief of Staff's office is in Cairo. He is also chief of staff of the army. Formally, he is also chief of staff of the air force and navy as well, but apparently the commanders of the other two services frequently report directly to the Minister of Defence/Commander-in-Chief. From the Chief of Staff's office are directed three command-and-control headquarters and nine command-and-control field headquarters.

Structure of the First Field Army (click to enlarge)

Structure of the Second Field Army (click to enlarge)

Structure of the Third Field Army (click to enlarge)

HQ, Central Military High Command: Heliopolis, Cairo

• HQ, Central Military Region: Greater Cairo
  • Field HQ, Heliopolis, Central Military Region
  • Field HQ, El Qanater, Central Military Region
    • Sub-Field HQ, Tanta, Central Military Region
    • Sub-Field HQ, Zagazig, Central Military Region
  • Field HQ, Qom Ushim, El Fayum, Central Military Region
  • Field HQ, Beni Suef, Central Military Region

HQ, Northern Military Region: Alexandria

• Field HQ, Alexandria, Northern Military Region
  • Sub-Field HQ, Abou Qir, Northern Military Region
  • Sub-Field HQ, Mariout, Northern Military Region
• Field HQ, Rashid, Northern Military Region
• Field HQ, Damietta, Northern Military Region

HQ, Eastern Military Region: El Suez

• Field HQ, Port Said, Northern Suez Canal Military Region
• Field HQ, Ismaelia, Central Suez Canal Military Region
• Field HQ, El Mansoura, El Daqahliya, Eastern Delta Military Region
• Field HQ, El Suez, Southern Suez Canal Military Region
• Field HQ, Cairo-Suez Highway Military Region
• Field HQ, Hurghada, Red Sea Military Region

HQ, Western Military Region: Mersa Matruh

• Field HQ, Sidi Barrani, Western Military Region
• Field HQ, Marsa Alam, Western Military Region
• Field HQ, Salloum, Western Military Region

HQ, Southern Military Region: Assiut

• Field HQ, El Menia, Southern Military Region
• Field HQ, Qena, Southern Military Region
• Field HQ, Sohag, Southern Military Region
• Field HQ, Aswan, Southern Military Region

Field armies

• First Field Army: H.Q. in Cairo (H.Q. Command & 3 field H.Q.)
  • 1st Corps: Field H.Q. In Heliopolis, Cairo, Central Military Region
    • 1st Republican Guard Armoured Division
    • 24th Independent Mechanized Brigade
    • 116th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 117th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 135th Special Forces Regiment
  • 2nd Corps: Field H.Q. in Alexandria, Northern and Western Military Regions
    • 6th Mechanized Division
    • 18th Independent Armoured Brigade
    • 218th Independent Infantry Brigade
    • 118th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 119th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 129th Special Forces Regiment
  • 3rd Corps: Field H.Q. in Assiut, Western and Southern Military Regions
    • 8th Mechanized Division
    • 36th Independent Armoured Brigade
    • 120th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 121st Field Artillery Brigade
    • 222nd Air-mobile Brigade
• Second Field Army: H.Q. Ismaelia (H.Q. Command & 3 field H.Q.)
  • 1st Corps: Field H.Q. in Port Said, Northern Suez Canal Military Zone
    • 21st Armoured Division
    • 7th Mechanized Division (former 2nd Infantry Division)
    • 122nd Field Artillery Brigade
    • 123rd Field Artillery Brigade
    • 412th Airborne Brigade
    • 117th Special Forces Regiment
  • 2nd Corps: Field H.Q. in Ismaelia, Central Suez Canal Military Zone
    • 4th Armoured Division
    • 17th Mechanized Division
    • 124th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 125th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 123rd Special Forces Regiment
  • 3rd Corps: Field H.Q. in El Mansoura, El Daqahliya, Eastern Delta Military Region
    • 6th Armoured Division
    • 19th Mechanized Division
    • 219th Independent Infantry Brigade
    • 126th Field Artillery Brigades
    • 815th Heavy Mortar Brigade
    • 153rd Special Forces Regiment
• Third Field Army: H.Q. Suez (H.Q. Command & 3 field H.Q.)
  • 1st Corps: Field H.Q. in Cairo-Suez Highway Military Region
    • 9th Armoured Division
    • 23rd Mechanized Division
    • 94th Independent Mechanized Brigade
    • 127th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 224th Air-mobile Brigade
    • 159th Special Forces Regiment
  • 2nd Corps: Field H.Q. in Suez, Suez Canal Military Zone
    • 36th Mechanized Division
    • 44th Independent Armoured Brigade
    • 128th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 129th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 816th Heavy Mortar Brigade
    • 141st Special Forces Regiment
  • 3rd Corps: Field H.Q. in Hurghada, Red Sea Military Region
    • 16th Mechanized Division
    • 82nd Independent Armoured Brigade
    • 110th Independent Mechanized Brigades
    • 111th Independent Mechanized Brigades (former 130th Amphibious Brigade))
    • 130th Field Artillery Brigade
    • 147th Special Forces Regiment

Corps

• Republican Guard Corps: (1 H.Q. Command)
  • Republican Guard Armoured Division (1st)
    • Republican Guard Armoured Brigade (33rd)
    • Republican Guard Armoured Brigade (35th)
    • Republican Guard Mechanized Brigade (510th)
    • Republican Guard Mechanized Brigade (512th)
• Tactical Missile Command Corps:
  • 1st and 2nd SSM Brigades
• Armored Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 3 Field H.Q.)
  • 2nd, 4th, 7th, and 9th Armoured Divisions
  • 18th, 36th, 44th, and 82nd Independent Armoured Brigades
  • 33rd and 35th Republican Guard Armoured Brigades
• Mechanized Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 3 Field H.Q.)
  • Mechanized Division (6th)
  • Mechanized Division (7th)
  • Mechanized Division (8th)
  • Mechanized Division (16th)
  • Mechanized Division (17th)
  • Mechanized Division (19th)
  • Mechanized Division (23rd)
  • Mechanized Division (36th)
  • Independent Mechanized Brigade (24th)
  • Independent Mechanized Brigade (94th)
  • Independent Mechanized Brigade (110th)
  • Independent Mechanized Brigade (111th) (former 130th Amphibious Brigade)
  • Republican Guard Mechanized Brigade (510th)
  • Republican Guard Mechanized Brigade (512th)
• Infantry Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 2 Field H.Q.)
  • Independent Infantry Brigade (218th)
  • Independent Infantry Brigade (219th)
  • ATGW Brigade (33rd)
  • ATGW Brigade (44th)
  • ATGW Brigade (55th)
  • ATGW Brigade (66th)
  • ATGW Brigade (77th)
  • ATGW Brigade (88th)
• Artillery Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 3 Field H.Q.)
  • Republican Guard's S/P Field Artillery Brigade (10th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (101st)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (102nd)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (103rd)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (104th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (105th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (106th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (107th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (108th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (109th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (111th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (113th)
  • S/P Field Artillery Brigade (115th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (116th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (117th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (118th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (119th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (120th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (121st)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (122nd)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (123rd)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (124th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (125th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (126th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (127th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (128th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (129th)
  • Field Artillery Brigade (130th)
  • Heavy Mortar Brigade (815th)
  • Heavy Mortar Brigade (816th)
• Airborne Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 2 Field H.Q.)
  • Airborne Brigade (414th)
• Air Mobile Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 2 Field H.Q.)
  • Air Mobile Brigade (222nd)
• Special Forces Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 3 Field H.Q.)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (117th)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (123rd)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (129th)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (135th)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (141st)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (147th)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (153rd)
  • Special Forces Regiment/Group (159th)
• Signal Corps: (1 H.Q. Command & 9 Field Signal H.Q.)
  • 18 Signal Battalions (601 to 619th)
• Engineering Corps: (H.Q. COM. & 6 Field Engineers Command H.Q.)
  • Field Engineers Brigade (35th)
  • Field Engineers Brigade (37th)
  • Field Engineers Brigade (39th)
  • Field Engineers Brigade (41st)
  • Field Engineers Brigade (43rd)
  • Field Engineers Brigade (45th)
• Medical Corps: (1 H.Q. Command & 9 Field Medical H.Q.) (18 Military Hospitals, 3 Hospital Ships, 4 Hospital Barges)
  • 27 Field Medical Battalions (1st to 27th)
    • 108 Field Medical Companies (201st to 308th)
• Supply Corps: (1 H.Q. Command & 9 Field Supply H.Q.)
  • 36 Field Supply Battalions (501st to 536th)
• Quartermasters Corps: (1 H.Q. Command & 9 Field Quartermasters H.Q.)
  • 9 Central Military depots
  • 16 Regional Military depots
  • 32 Field Military depots
• Military Police Corps: (1 H.Q. Command & 9 Field H.Q.)
  • 12 Inland MP Battalions (222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, 242, 244)
  • 12 Field MP Battalions (221, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 233, 235, 237, 239, 241, 243)
• Frontier Corps (1 H.Q. Command & 5 Field H.Q.)
  • 20 Battalions: 12,000 men, mostly Bedouins, lightly armed paramilitary forces equipped with remote sensors, night-vision binoculars, communications vehicles, and high-speed motorboats and responsible for:
    • Border surveillance: 10 battalions
    • General peacekeeping: 2 battalions
    • Drug interdiction: 5 battalions
    • Prevention of smuggling: 3 battalions

Order of battle

These commands include the following formations:

• 4 Armoured Divisions (4th, 6th, 9th & 21st) 4 H.Q. Commands (4 C3 H.Q.)
  • 8 Armoured Brigades (312th, 314th, 316th, 318th, 320th, 322nd, 324th, 326th)
    • 24 Armoured Battalions (1st to 24th)
      • 80 Armoured Companies
      • 8 Command Companies
      • 8 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 8 Mechanized Battalions (1st to 8th)
      • 24 Mechanized Companies
      • 4 Command Companies
      • 4 Signal/Recon Companies
  • 4 Mechanized Brigades (512th, 516th, 520th & 524th)
    • 12 Mechanized Battalions (13th to 25th)
      • 24 Mechanized Companies
      • 4 Command Companies
      • 4 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 4 Armoured Battalions (25th to 28th)
      • 12 Armoured Companies
      • 2 Command Companies
      • 2 Signal/Recon Companies
  • 4 S/P Artillery Brigades (102nd, 104th, 106th, 108th)
  • 4 S/P Artillery Command H.Q. (Brigade level)
    • 16 S/P Artillery Battalions (36th to 51st)
      • 48 S/P Artillery Batteries
• 8 Mechanized Infantry Divisions (2nd, 3rd, 7th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 36th) 8 H.Q. Commands (8 C3 H.Q.)
  • 16 Mechanized Brigades (712th to 727th)
    • 36 Mechanized Battalions (111th to 145th)
      • 120 Mechanized Companies
      • 12 Command Companies
      • 12 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 18 Armoured Battalions (30th to 47th)
      • 54 Armoured Companies
      • 9 Command Companies
      • 9 Signal/Recon Companies
  • 8 Armoured Brigades (10th to 17th)
    • 24 Armoured Battalions (65th to 88th)
      • 80 Armoured Companies
      • 8 Command Companies
      • 8 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 8 Mechanized Battalions (41st to 48th)
      • 24 Mechanized Companies
      • 8 Command Companies
      • 8 Recon Companies
  • 8 S/P Artillery Brigades (101st, 103rd, 105th, 107th, 109th, 111th, 113th, 115th)
    • 24 S/P Artillery Battalions (6th to 29th)
      • 96 S/P Batteries
• 1 Republican Guard Armoured Division (1st) H.Q. Command (C3 H.Q.)
  • 2 Armoured Brigades (33rd & 35th)
    • 4 Armoured Battalions (118th, 119th, 120th, 121st)
      • 16 Armoured Companies
      • 4 Command Companies
      • 4 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 2 Mechanized Battalions (41st & 42nd)
      • 8 Mechanized Companies
      • 2 Command Companies
      • 2 Signal/Recon Companies
  • 2 Mechanized Brigades (510th & 512th)
    • 6 Mechanized Battalions (41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th)
      • 18 Mechanized Companies
      • 3 Command Companies
      • 3 Signal/Recon Companies
    • 2 Armoured Battalions (116th & 117th)
      • 6 Armoured Companies
      • 1 Command Company
      • 1 Signal/Recon Company
  • 1 S/P Artillery Brigade (10th) Command H.Q. (Brigade level)
    • 4 S/P Artillery Battalions (1st to 4th)
      • 16 S/P Artillery Batteries
• 4 Independent Armoured Brigades (18th, 36th, 44th & 82nd)
  • 12 Armoured Battalions (77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 81st, 82nd, 83rd, 84th, 85th, 86th, 87th, 88th)
    • 36 Armoured Companies
    • 6 Command Companies
    • 6 Signal/Recon Companies
  • 4 Mechanized Battalions (91st, 92nd, 93rd, 95th)
    • 12 Mechanized Companies
    • 2 Command Companies
    • 2 Signal/Recon Companies
• 4 Independent Mechanized Brigades (24th, 94th, 110th, 111th [former 130th Amphibious Brigade])
  • 12 Mechanized Battalions (33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th)
    • 36 Mechanized Companies
    • 12 Com/Recon Companies
  • 4 Armoured Battalions (96th, 97th, 98th, 99th)
    • 12 Armoured Companies
    • 2 Command Companies
    • 2 Signal/Recon Companies
• 2 Independent Infantry Brigades (218th & 219th)
  • 4 Infantry Battalions (712th, 713th, 714th, 715th)
    • 10 Infantry Companies
    • 4 Command Companies
    • 2 Signal/Recon Companies
  • 4 Mechanized Battalions (100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd)
    • 12 Mechanized Companies
    • 2 Command Companies
    • 2 Signal/Recon Companies
  • 2 Armoured Battalions (17th & 18th)
    • 6 Armoured Companies
    • 1 Command Company
    • 1 Signal/Recon Company
• 1 Air Mobile Brigade (222nd) (1 H.Q.)
  • 3 Air Mobile Mechanized Battalions (5th, 6th, 7th)
    • 9 Mechanized Companies
    • 1 Command Company
    • 1 Recon/Signal Company
    • 1 Air Defense Company
  • 1 Air Mobile Armored Battalion (56th)
    • 3 Air Mobile Light Armored Companies
    • 1 Air Mobile Command/Recon Company
• 1 Airborne Brigade (414th) (1 H.Q.)
  • 3 Airborne Battalions (224th, 225th, 226th)
    • 10 Airborne Companies
    • 1 Airborne Command Company
    • 1 Airborne Recon Company
  • 1 Airborne Mechanized Battalion (176th)
    • 3 Mechanized Companies
    • 1 Command/Recon/Signal Company
• 8 Special Forces Regiments/Groups (Brigade level) (117th, 123rd, 129th, 135th, 141st, 147th, 153rd, 159th) (1 H.Q.) (of which 3 Lightning/Saaqa regiments and 3 Commandos regiments, the remaining 2 are the Marine Commandos and the Infiltration Anti-terror units)
  • 18 Commandos Battalions: (230th to 247th)
    • 72 Commandos Companies
  • 3 Marine Commandos Battalions (515th, 616th, 818th)
    • 12 Marine Commandos Companies
  • 3 Infiltration Anti-terror Battalions (777th, 888th, 999th)
    • 12 Infiltration Companies
• 15 Heavy Artillery Brigades (116th to 130th) 15 S/P Artillery Command H.Q. (Brigade level)
  • 60 Artillery Battalions (314th to 373rd)
    • 240 Artillery Batteries (1st to 240th)
• 2 Heavy Mortar Brigades (815th & 816th) 8 S/P Heavy Mortar Command H.Q. (Brigade Level)
  • 8 S/P Heavy Mortar Battalions (333rd, 334th, 335th, 336th, 337th, 339th, 340th 341st)
    • 32 S/P Heavy Mortar Batteries (1st to 32nd)
• 6 ATGW Brigades (33rd, 44th, 55th, 66th, 77th, 88th)
• 6 Engineering Brigades (35th, 37th, 39th, 41st, 43rd, 45th)
  • 12 Engineers Battalions (65th to 82nd)
  • 6 Field Engineers Battalions (610th to 615th)
    • 6 Construction Engineering Companies
    • 6 Demolition Engineering Companies
    • 6 Mine Clearance Engineering Companies
    • 6 Maintenance & Logistics Engineering Companies
  • 4 Field Engineering Salvage Battalions
  • 2 Field Engineering Special Operations Battalions
• 2 Tactical SSM Brigades (1st, 2nd), comprising:
  • 5 Batteries of Battlefield range ballistic missile system FROG-7 (license built)
  • 5 Batteries of Battlefield range ballistic missile system Sakr-80 (Indigenous built, based on Frog-7 design)
  • 3 Batteries of Short-range ballistic missile System Scud-B (license built)
  • 2 Batteries of Short-range ballistic missile System Scud-C (license built with North Korean assistance)
  • 2 Batteries of Short-range ballistic missile System Project-T (indigenous built with Argentinian/French technology and North Korean assistance)
  • 1 Battery of Short-range ballistic missile System Hwasong-6
  • 1 Battery of Short-range ballistic missile System Al Badr 2000 (better known as an enhanced Scud-C variant) (Not the canceled Badr 2000/Condor 2 Project with Argentina)
  • 1 Battery of Medium-range ballistic missile System Nodong-1

Ranks and insignia

Main article: Egyptian Army ranks

Commissioned Officers

Commissioned Officer rank insignia of the Egyptian Army
Lieutenant	First Lieutenant	Captain	Major	Lieutenant Colonel	Colonel	Brigadier	Major General	Lieutenant General	Colonel General	Field Marshal
Arabic: ملازم‎‎	Arabic: ملازم أول‎‎	Arabic: نقيب‎‎	Arabic: رائد‎‎	Arabic: مقدم‎‎	Arabic: عقيد‎‎	Arabic: عميد‎‎	Arabic: لواء‎‎	Arabic: فريق‎‎	Arabic: فريق أول‎‎	Arabic: مشير‎‎

Enlisted personnel

Warrant Officer rank insignia		Non-commissioned Officer rank insignia			Enlisted rank insignia
First Warrant Officer	Warrant Officer	First Sergeant	Sergeant	Corporal	Private
Arabic: مساعد أول'‎‎	Arabic: مساعد‎‎	Arabic: رقيب أول‎‎	Arabic: رقيب‎‎	Arabic: عريف‎‎	Arabic: جندى‎‎

Uniform

Main article: Egyptian Army Uniform

The Egyptian Army uses a British style ceremonial outfit, and a desert camouflage overall implemented in 2012. The Identification between different branches in the Egyptian Army depends on the branch insignia on the left upper arm and the color of the beret. Also, the airborne, Thunderbolt, and republican guard each has its own camouflage overall.

Camouflage Suit

Main article: Egyptian Army Uniform

Army	Airborne	Thunderbolt	Republican Guard

Berets

Branch	Beret
	Officer	Brigadier	General
Airborne
Armored
Artillery
Border Guard
Infantry
Military Police
Moral affairs
Reconnaissance
Thunderbolt
Others

Weapons inventory

Main article: Equipment of the modern Egyptian Army

Egypt's varied army weapons inventory complicates logistical support for the army. National policy since the 1970s has included the creation of a domestic arms industry (including the Arab Organization for Industrialization) capable of indigenous maintenance and upgrades to existing equipment, with the ultimate aim of Egyptian production of major ground systems. This target was finally met with the commencement of M-1 Abrams production in 1992. (Egypt had received permission to build an M-1 factory in 1984.) Prior to this, large acquisitions had included nearly 700 M-60A1 main battle tanks from the US from March 1990, as well as nearly 500 Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles.

See also

• Egyptian Military museum
• List of Battles of Egypt
• Central Security Forces
• List of countries by number of active troops

Further reading

• Kenneth Pollack, Arabs at War
• Steve Rothwell, Military Ally or Liability, The Egyptian Army 1936-42, accessed February 2009