Egypt has one of the largest and most powerful militaries in the Middle East, but how much of its strength relies on American support? The short answer: a lot. Since the 1979 peace treaty with Israel, the U.S. has been a key supplier of Egypt’s military hardware, providing billions of dollars in aid, advanced fighter jets, tanks, and training.
However, in recent years, Egypt has started buying weapons from Russia and Europe, trying to reduce its dependence on Washington. This shift creates challenges—maintaining a mix of American, Russian, and European equipment is complicated and expensive. As a result, experts estimate that only 50% to 80% of Egypt’s fighter jets are fully operational at any given time, depending on the model and availability of parts.
Heavy Reliance on U.S. Equipment and Support
The backbone of Egypt’s air force is the F-16 fighter jet, of which it has over 200. These jets, along with M1A1 Abrams tanks and AH-64 Apache helicopters, were acquired through U.S. military aid, which amounts to $1.3 billion per year. But owning this equipment is only part of the equation—keeping it combat-ready depends on continued access to American-made spare parts, weapons, and training.
Most military experts agree that at least 70% of Egypt’s U.S. aid goes toward maintenance and upgrades rather than purchasing new equipment. Without regular servicing and the right replacement parts, many of these systems would become unusable over time.
Diversification and Its Challenges
Egypt has been trying to reduce its reliance on the U.S. by buying French Rafale jets, Russian MiG-29s, and Su-35s, as well as expanding its navy with German submarines and French warships. While this gives Egypt more independence, it also creates logistical headaches. Each type of aircraft requires different spare parts, maintenance routines, and pilot training programs.
For example, if an F-16 breaks down, it needs parts from American suppliers. But if the U.S. freezes military aid or imposes restrictions (as it has in the past over human rights concerns), Egypt could struggle to keep these jets flying. This is a major reason why some of its fighter fleet is grounded at any given time.
Can Egypt Function Without U.S. Support?
While Egypt’s military is strong, its reliance on American-made weapons creates a vulnerability. If relations between the two countries deteriorated and the U.S. cut off military aid, Egypt would face serious challenges maintaining its American-built aircraft, tanks, and helicopters. Though its shift toward Russian and European weapons helps mitigate this risk, a full transition would take years, if not decades.
In short, Egypt’s military remains deeply tied to the U.S., even as it seeks greater independence. How this balance plays out in the coming years will depend on both political decisions and Egypt’s ability to manage a complex, multi-source military arsenal.
