Editing Egyptian Armed Forces (section)

===Navy===
{{see also|List of naval ships of Egypt}}
Organized naval activity in [[Egypt]] can be traced to the [[Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)|Early Dynastic period]], around 2800 BCE, when the state developed rudimentary maritime capabilities to support transport, trade, and military expeditions along the Nile and adjacent coasts.

During the early modern period, [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali]], who became ''wali'' in 1805, established autonomous rule over Egypt and initiated a broad program of state and military development. As part of his efforts to build an empire, he prioritized the creation of a strong military, beginning with the army and followed by the navy. At the outset of his rule, Egypt already possessed a rudimentary naval force primarily used for troop transport. Its first recorded deployment was during the [[Wahhabi War]], facilitating the movement of troops from Egypt to [[Yanbu]] in the Hejaz.

In 1815, Muhammad Ali established the [[Alexandria Shipyard]] to construct warships, marking a significant step toward naval modernization. By the time of the [[Greek War of Independence]], the Egyptian Navy had expanded considerably, fielding more than 100 warships and several hundred transport vessels. In 1827, this fleet participated in the [[Battle of Navarino]], a pivotal engagement during the war.

Following World War II, elements of Egypt’s naval forces were stationed in the [[Red Sea]], although the majority remained concentrated in the Mediterranean. The navy’s main headquarters and operational facilities are based at Ras el-Tin near Alexandria.

The Egyptian Navy also oversees the [[Egyptian Coast Guard]], which is tasked with protecting coastal infrastructure and patrolling territorial waters to counter smuggling. According to the IISS Military Balance 2017, the Coast Guard comprised approximately 2,000 personnel, operating 14 fast patrol boats and 65 additional patrol vessels, including 15 Swiftships, 21 ''Timsah''-class, three Type-89s, and nine ''Peterson''-class boats.<ref>{{cite book|author=IISS|title=The Military Balance 2017|publisher=Routledge|place=London|page=374}}</ref>

Since 2014, Egypt has undertaken a broad naval modernization program aimed at addressing structural limitations in its maritime capabilities and enhancing its ability to operate beyond territorial waters. This initiative has included significant investment in new platforms, infrastructure, and training, reflecting a shift toward developing a blue-water navy. Notable acquisitions include [[Mistral class]] amphibious assault ships, [[FREMM]] and [[MEKO A-200]] frigates, [[Gowind-class design|Gowind class]] corvettes, and [[Type 209 submarine|Type 209 submarines]], as well as utility helicopters and coastal patrol vessels. Egypt has also pursued domestic shipbuilding through technology transfer agreements and expanded its naval infrastructure with new bases such as Berenice on the Red Sea and Ras Gargoub on the Mediterranean. These efforts reflect a strategic emphasis on maritime power projection, logistical reach, and the defense of national maritime interests.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/14/04/2021/egypt-and-development-its-national-navy-how-cairo-responding-new-challenges |title=Egypt and the development of its national Navy: how Cairo is responding to the new challenges of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea |last=Troisi |first=Flavia |date=14 April 2021 |website=Global Policy |access-date=5 April 2025}}</ref>