Editing Egyptian Armed Forces (section)

===Air Defense Forces===
The [[Egyptian Air Defense Forces]] is Egypt's military service responsible for air defense. Egypt patterned its force after the [[Soviet Air Defence Force]], which integrated all its air defence capabilities; antiaircraft guns, rocket and missile units, interceptor planes, and radar and warning installations. It appears to comprise five subordinate divisions, 110 surface-to-air missile battalions, and 12 anti-aircraft artillery brigades.{{sfn|Touchard|2017|p=58}} Personnel quality has been assessed as somewhat lower than that of the Egyptian Air Force.{{sfn|Touchard|2017|p=77}} The IISS estimated in 2020 that personnel numbered 80,000 active and 70,000 reserve.<ref name=IISS2020E /> Its commander is [[Lieutenant General]] [[Aly Fahmy Mohammed Aly Fahmi]].

In recent years Egypt has undertaken a broad and sustained modernization of its air defense network, integrating a mix of Western, Russian, and domestic systems into a layered architecture. This includes the acquisition of German-made [[IRIS-T#IRIS-T SLM|IRIS-T]] systems, comprising seven IRIS-T SLM medium-range batteries, six IRIS-T SLS short-range units, and ten IRIS-T SLX long-range batteries. The first systems were delivered in 2021, though subsequent shipments were delayed in 2022 after Germany redirected some systems to Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion.<ref name=airdefensemodernization>{{cite web |url=https://www.military.africa/2024/10/egypt-enhances-air-defence-with-operationalization-of-iris-t-systems/ |title=Egypt enhances air defence with operationalization of IRIS-T systems |website=Military Africa |date=October 2024 |access-date=5 April 2025}}</ref> These platforms are supported by German [[TRML|TRML-4D]] radars and operate alongside French [[Ground Master 400]] AESA radars and Russian 59N6E Protivnik-GE early warning systems.<ref name=airdefensemodernization/>

In addition to European acquisitions, Egypt received the Russian [[S-300VM]] surface-to-air missile system beginning in 2017, offering long-range, high-altitude intercept capabilities. The S-300VM complements Egypt’s existing inventory and significantly boosts its ability to counter ballistic and cruise missile threats.<ref name=airdefensemodernization/>

The United States has also contributed to Egypt’s air defense capacity, supplying surplus systems including the [[MIM-72 Chaparral|Chaparral]] short-range air defense system and associated spare parts. These systems are used primarily for localized defense, particularly along Egypt’s borders,<ref name=airdefensemodernization/> complimenting Egypt's extensive arsenal of American [[MIM-104 Patriot|MIM-104F/PAC-3]] Patriot batteries acquired in 1999.<ref>Wade Boese, "U.S. Announces New Arms Sales to Middle East Worth Billions," ''Arms Control Today'', March 1999, www.armscontrol.org; Anthony Cordesman, "The Military Balance in the Middle East," ''Greenwood Publishing Group'', 2004.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Cordesman |first=Anthony H. | author-link = Anthony Cordesman | chapter=Current Trends in Arms Sales in the Middle East |date=2019-03-11 |title=Arms Control and the New Middle East Security Environment | editor-last = Feldman | editor-first = Shai |pages=19–60 |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780429039119-2 |access-date=2024-08-19 |publisher=Routledge |doi=10.4324/9780429039119-2 |isbn=978-0-429-03911-9}}</ref>