Expert: Egypt modernizing army, but committed to peace

TAU professor: It is the Egyptian navy that truly impresses in both its size and makeup.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Egypt's military is gradually doing away with dated Soviet equipment and replacing them with superior American F-16 fighter jets, Apache combat helicopters and Abrams tanks, according to arms control expert Prof. Yiftah Shapir of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Securities Studies. Egypt has an estimated 470,000 men in its ground forces, 150,000 of them reserves, according to Sapir. The Egyptian army has 3,100 tanks, including more than 1,000 modern M1A1 Abram tanks that were assembled in Egypt after being imported in pieces. Egypt has no less than 2,110 anti-tank missiles and 3,590 artillery and mortar guns, as well as rocket launchers. Of the 518 planes that make up the country's air force, 211 are advanced F-16D multi-role jets. Some 35 modernized Apaches are also in service among the 225 air force helicopters. Egypt has advanced air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, and has been supplied by the US with 16 HAWK missile batteries. It is the Egyptian navy, however, that truly impresses in both its size and makeup, Shapir said. "If there's one thing the Egyptians have on a bigger scale than us, it is their navy. Egypt has more coastal areas and beaches than Israel, and has received the most advanced forms of frigates, known as Perry-class frigates," he said. Egypt has 27 guided-missile frigates of various classes, 12 mine warfare vessels, and 19 gunboats. It maintains eight naval bases. As for unconventional weapons, Egypt may have researched and produced chemical warfare agents and stockpiled mustard and nerve agents, although this has not been confirmed. It is thought to possess 190 scud-type missiles. Egypt maintains two space satellites, both thought to be for civilian and scientific use. Shapir said he was not overly concerned by reports of Egyptian military drills in which Israel was the simulated enemy. "There is no military force other than Israel on their borders, so the drills are simulated with Israel in mind. Every army undergoes drills and builds up plans. The Egyptian army is looking at Israel's capabilities, not its intentions. Egypt believes Israel is fully interested in safeguarding the status quo, and Israel believes the same of Egypt. "But the Egyptian military cannot ignore its next door neighbor's military and act as if it is neutral," Shapir said. He added that Israel, too, trained for scenarios involving the Egyptian military. "We can't expect things to be any different," he said. "We are not in the European Union. Before the current era, and before the world wars, European powers held drills with their neighbors in mind."