The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces and holds power in the current Egyptian government. It is estimated to number around 379,000, in addition to 479,000 reservists for a total of 858,000 strong. The modern army was created in the 1820s, and during the twentieth century has fought four wars with Israel (in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973). Furthermore, in 1991 Egyptian units took part in Operation Desert Storm, the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.

Ottoman and post Ottoman

The modern Egyptian army was formed in the 1830s by Muhammad Ali of Egypt

Muhammad Ali of Egypt

Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha was a commander in the Ottoman army, who became Wāli, and self-declared Khedive of Egypt and Sudan...

. He sought to split Egypt away from the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

, and to do this he brought in European weapons and expertise and built an army that defeated the Sultan and seized control over Egypt, Syria, and parts of Arabia. The Egyptian Army was involved in the following wars during the Muhammad Ali dynasty:

• Greek War of Independence
  Greek War of Independence
  The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
  
  
• Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)
  Egyptian–Ottoman War (1831–1833)
  The First Egyptian-Ottoman War, First Turco-Egyptian War or First Syrian War was brought about by Muhammad Ali Pasha's demand to the Ottoman Empire for control of Arab Greater Syria, as reward for his assistance in Crete against Greece...
  
  
• Syrian War
  Syrian War
  The Syrian War is the name generally given to the war of 1839-40 fought in the Middle East, also known as the Second Syrian War, mainly on territory that is now Lebanon, between the Allied Powers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Austrian Empire, the Russian Empire and the...
  
  

But the Europeans intervened on the Sultan's behalf, and following their intercession the Egyptian army languished until Britain took control of Egypt in the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War. Egypt was involved in the long-running 1881-99 Mahdist War

Mahdist War

The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...

 in the Sudan.

Nasser

After the defeat of the Egyptian army in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War

1948 Arab-Israeli War

The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...

, a revolutionary organization was created secretly by the Egyptian officers under the name of Free Officers Movement

Free Officers Movement

In Egypt, the clandestine revolutionary Free Officers Movement was composed of young junior army officers committed to unseating the Egyptian monarchy and its British advisors...

. This Free Officers Movement, masterminded by Nasser seized power from King Farouk of Egypt

Farouk of Egypt

Farouk I of Egypt , was the tenth ruler from the Muhammad Ali Dynasty and the penultimate King of Egypt and Sudan, succeeding his father, Fuad I, in 1936....

 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 1956 Suez Crisis, the North Yemen Civil War

North Yemen Civil War

The North Yemen Civil War was fought in North Yemen between royalists of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen and factions of the Yemen Arab Republic from 1962 to 1970. The war began with a coup d'état carried out by the republican leader, Abdullah as-Sallal, which dethroned the newly crowned Imam...

 from 1962 to 1967, the 1967 Six Day War, the 1969-1970 War of Attrition

War of Attrition

The international community and both countries attempted to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The Jarring Mission of the United Nations was supposed to ensure that the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 242 would be observed, but by late 1970 it was clear that this mission had been...

, the 1973 Yom Kippur War

Yom Kippur War

The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...

, and the 1977 Libyan–Egyptian War.

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 paratroop 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.

Sadat and Mubarak

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

It has been argued that only the relatively good performance of the Egyptian Army in the 1973 war, especially in the Suez Crossing and in the Battle of Suez

Battle of Suez

The Battle of Suez was fought on October 24–25, 1973 between the Israel Defense Forces and the Egyptian Army in the Egyptian town of Suez. It was the last major battle of the Yom Kippur War, before a ceasefire took effect....

, which allowed the Egyptians to claim a level of victory and take part in the 1977 Camp David Accords

Camp David Accords

The Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following thirteen days of secret negotiations at Camp David. The two framework agreements were signed at the White House, and were witnessed by United States...

 without losing face. Yet despite the impressive crossing of the Suez Canal (Operation Badr),
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 paratroop 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.

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.

Since the 1980s the army has built closer and closer ties with the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, as evidenced in the bi-annual Operation Bright Star

Operation Bright Star

Operation Bright Star is a series of biennial combined and joint training exercises led by American and Egyptian forces in Egypt. These exercises began in 1980. They are designed to strengthen ties between the Egyptian and American militaries and demonstrate and enhance the ability of the Americans...

 exercises. This cooperation eased integration of the Egyptian Army into the Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

 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 one year as enlisted or three years as a reserve officer.

Structure

Under the Ministry of Defence (Egypt) is the Egyptian Military Operations Authority with its headquarters in Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

. 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

C4ISTAR

In military usage, a number of abbreviations in the format C followed by additional letters are used, based on expanded versions of the abbreviation C2 - command and control.C2I stands for command, control, and intelligence....

 headquarters and nine command-and-control field headquarters.

• Central Military High Command: Heliopolis, Cairo
  • HQ, Central Military Region: Greater Cairo
• Field HQ, Heliopolis
  Heliopolis (Cairo Suburb)
  Modern Heliopolis is a district in Cairo, Egypt. The city was established in 1905 by the Heliopolis Oasis Company, headed by the Belgian industrialist Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Empain, as well as Boghos Nubar, son of the Egyptian Prime Minister Nubar Pasha.-History:The Baron Empain, a well known...
  
  , 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
    Beni Suef
    - Overview :Beni Suef is an important agricultural center, which grew from a small village at the turn of the century and now hosts a population of over 200,000. It was famous for its linen manufacturing in the Middle Ages, and continues to be heavily involved in cotton-spinning and carpet-making....
    
    , 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 Sharqueya, 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
    • 1 Republican Guard
      Republican Guard (Egypt)
      The Egyptian Republican Guard is a Division level command within the Egyptian Army, designed to be a heavily armored division with the main responsibility to defend the Capital of the Republic, mainly the major governmental and strategic industrial institutions.The Republican Guard is under the...
      
       Armoured Division (1st)
    • 1 Independent Mechanized Brigade (24th)
    • 2 Field Artillery Brigades (116th & 117th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment (135th)
  • 2nd Corps: Field H.Q. in Alexandria, Northern and Western Military Regions
    • 1 Mechanized Division (6th)
    • 1 Independent Armoured Brigade (18th)
    • 1 Independent Infantry Brigade (218th)
    • 2 Field Artillery Brigades (118th & 119th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment (129th)
  • 3rd Corps: Field H.Q. in Assiut, Western and Southern Military Regions
    • 1 Mechanized Division (8th)
    • 1 Independent Armoured Brigade (36th)
    • 2 Field Artillery Brigades (120th & 121st)
    • 1 Air Mobile Brigade (222nd)
• 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
    • 1 Armoured Division (2nd)
    • 1 Mechanized Division (7th) (former 2nd Infantry Division
      2nd Infantry Division (Egypt)
      The 2nd Infantry Division of the Egyptian Army was a heavy infantry formation created after the Second World War.In June 1967, the Egyptian 2nd Division comprised the 10th Infantry Brigade, the 12th Infantry Brigade and the 51st Artillery Brigade. It defended the central sector of the Sinai Front...
      
      )
    • 2 Field Artillery Brigades (122nd & 123rd)
    • 1 Paratroops Brigade (412th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment (117th)
  • 2nd Corps: Field H.Q. in Ismaelia, Central Suez Canal Military Zone
    • 1 Armoured Division (4th)
    • 1 Mechanized Division (17th)
    • 2 Field Artillery Brigades (124th & 125th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment (123rd)
  • 3rd Corps: Field H.Q. in El Mansoura, El Sharqueya, Eastern Delta Military Region
    • 1 Armoured Division (7th)
    • 1 Mechanized Division (19th)
    • 1 Independent Infantry Brigade (219th)
    • 1 Field Artillery Brigades (126th)
    • 1 Heavy Mortar Brigade (815th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment (153rd)
• Third Field Army: H.Q. Suez (H.Q. Command & 3 field H.Q.)
  • 1st Corps: Field H.Q. in Cairo-Suez Highway Military Region
    • 1 Armoured Division (9th)
    • 1 Mechanized Division (23rd)
    • 1 Independent Mechanized Brigade (94th)
    • 1 Field Artillery Brigade (127th)
    • 1 Air Mobile Brigade (224th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment (159th)
  • 2nd Corps: Field H.Q. in Suez, Suez Canal Military Zone
    • 1 Mechanized Division (36th)
    • 1 Independent Armoured Brigade (44th)
    • 2 Field Artillery Brigades (128th & 129th)
    • 1 Heavy Mortar Brigade (816th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment(141st)
  • 3rd Corps: Field H.Q. in Hurghada, Red Sea Military Region
    • 1 Mechanized Division (16th)
    • 1 Independent Armoured Brigade (82nd)
    • 2 Independent Mechanized Brigades (110th & 111th (Former 130th Amphibious Brigade))
    • 1 Field Artillery Brigade (130th)
    • 1 Special Forces Regiment (147th)

Corps

• Republican Guard Corps
  Republican Guard (Egypt)
  The Egyptian Republican Guard is a Division level command within the Egyptian Army, designed to be a heavily armored division with the main responsibility to defend the Capital of the Republic, mainly the major governmental and strategic industrial institutions.The Republican Guard is under the...
  
  : (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)
• Paratroops Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 2 Field H.Q.)
  • Paratroops Brigade (414th)
• Air Mobile Corps: (1 H.Q. Command, 2 Field H.Q.)
  • Air Mobile Bridage (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 Mililtary 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, in a lightly armed paramilitary force equipped this force 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
  Paratrooper
  Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
  
   Brigade (414th) (1 H.Q.)
  • 3 Paratroops Battalions (224th, 225th, 226th)
    • 10 Paratroops Companies
    • 1 Paratroops Command Company
    • 1 Paratroops Recon Company
  • 1 Paratroops 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
  Surface-to-surface missile
  A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving...
  
   Brigades (1st, 2nd), comprising:
  • 5 Batteries of Battlefield range ballistic missile
    Battlefield Range Ballistic Missile
    Battlefield range ballistic missile is a type of ballistic missile with battlefield range, i.e. less than 100 km.-Specific BRBM's:* Hatf I* OTR-21_Tochka* FROG-7* NASR -See also:...
    
     system FROG-7
    FROG-7
    The 9K52 Luna-M is a Soviet short-range ballistic missile complex. The 9M21 missiles are unguided and spin-stabilized. "9K52" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is FROG-7....
    
     (license built)
  • 5 Batteries of Battlefield range ballistic missile
    Battlefield Range Ballistic Missile
    Battlefield range ballistic missile is a type of ballistic missile with battlefield range, i.e. less than 100 km.-Specific BRBM's:* Hatf I* OTR-21_Tochka* FROG-7* NASR -See also:...
    
     system Sakr-80 (Indigenous built, based on Frog-7
    FROG-7
    The 9K52 Luna-M is a Soviet short-range ballistic missile complex. The 9M21 missiles are unguided and spin-stabilized. "9K52" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is FROG-7....
    
     design)
  • 3 Batteries of Short-range ballistic missile
    Short-range ballistic missile
    A short-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapons. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost...
    
     System Scud-B
    Scud
    Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
    
     (license built)
  • 2 Batteries of Short-range ballistic missile
    Short-range ballistic missile
    A short-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapons. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost...
    
     System Scud-C
    Scud
    Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
    
     (license built with North Korean assistance)
  • 2 Batteries of Short-range ballistic missile
    Short-range ballistic missile
    A short-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapons. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost...
    
     System Project-T (indigenous built with Argentinian/French technology and North Korean assistance)
  • 1 Battery of Short-range ballistic missile
    Short-range ballistic missile
    A short-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapons. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost...
    
     System Hwasong-6
    Hwasong-6
    The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile. It is derived from the Hwasong-5, itself a derivative of the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. It carries the NATO reporting name Scud....
    
    
  • 1 Battery of Short-range ballistic missile
    Short-range ballistic missile
    A short-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapons. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost...
    
     System Al Badr 2000 (better known as an enhanced Scud-C
    Scud
    Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
    
     variant) (Not the canceled Badr 2000/Condor 2 Project with Argentina)
  • 1 Battery of Medium-range ballistic missile
    Medium-range ballistic missile
    A medium-range ballistic missile , is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium range missile is defined by having a maximum range of between 1,000 and 3,000 km1...
    
     System Nodong-1

Commissioned Officers

Commissioned Officer rank insignia of the Egyptian Army
Field Marshal Field Marshal Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...	Colonel General Colonel General Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...	Lieutenant General Lieutenant General Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....	Major General Major General Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...	Brigadier General Brigadier Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....	Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...	Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...	Major Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...	Captain	Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...	Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...

Enlisted personnel

Warrant Officer Warrant Officer A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...  rank insignia		Non-commissioned Officer Non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...  rank insignia			Enlisted Enlisted rank An enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...  rank insignia
Chief Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer Chief warrant officer is a military rank used by the Canadian Forces and the Israel Defence Forces.-Canada:In the Canadian Forces, a chief warrant officer or CWO is the most senior non-commissioned member rank in the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force...	Warrant Officer Warrant Officer A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...	Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...	Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....	Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....	Private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
					—-

Weapons inventory

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

Arab Organization for Industrialization

The Arab Organization for Industrialization is an Egypt-based Arab military organisation established in 1975 by Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to supervise the collective development of the Arab defence industry. Following a gradual deterioration in relations between the...

) 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

M60 Patton

The 105 mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tank, M60, also known unofficially as the M60 Patton, is a first-generation main battle tank introduced in December 1960. It was widely used by the U.S. and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world today...

 main battle tank

Main battle tank

A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...

s from the US from March 1990, as well as nearly 500 Hellfire

AGM-114 Hellfire

The AGM-114 Hellfire is an air-to-surface missile developed primarily for anti-armor use. It has multi-mission, multi-target precision-strike capability, and can be launched from multiple air, sea, and ground platforms. The Hellfire missile is the primary 100 lb-class air-to-ground precision...

anti-tank guided missiles.

Further reading

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