Egyptian Navy

The Egyptian Navy, officially known as the Egyptian Naval Forces, is the maritime branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces and represents one of the oldest continuously existing naval traditions in the world. In its modern form, it is recognised as the largest navy in the Middle East and Africa, and ranks among the world’s largest navies by number of vessels. The navy is tasked with safeguarding Egypt’s extensive maritime interests, including more than 2,000 kilometres of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, securing the maritime approaches to the Suez Canal, and providing naval support to ground and joint military operations.
The contemporary Egyptian Navy has developed into a multi-fleet force operating across two strategic theatres—the Mediterranean and the Red Sea—reflecting Egypt’s pivotal geographic position at the crossroads of global maritime trade routes.

Origins in Ancient Egypt

Egypt’s naval history extends back to Ancient Egyptian civilisation, where naval forces played a vital role in state power and military operations. The Ancient Egyptian Navy was primarily riverine but also capable of maritime operations in the Mediterranean and Red Sea. Ships were used to transport troops along the Nile, support amphibious assaults, and project power beyond Egypt’s borders.
Notable early engagements include the Battle of the Delta against the Sea Peoples around 1198–1166 BC, where Egyptian naval forces played a decisive defensive role. The navy also contributed to major campaigns such as the siege of Avaris around 1540 BC. Ancient Egypt imported shipbuilding expertise and vessels from regions such as the Kingdom of Cyprus, and several royal ships from this era survive as archaeological artefacts, highlighting the sophistication of early Egyptian naval engineering.

Modernisation under Muhammad Ali

The foundations of the modern Egyptian Navy were laid in the early nineteenth century under Muhammad Ali of Egypt, who sought to build a European-style army and navy as part of his wider modernisation programme. Egyptian naval forces participated in the Greek War of Independence on behalf of the Ottoman Empire, but suffered catastrophic losses in 1827 at the Battle of Navarino, where a combined British, French, and Russian fleet destroyed the Egyptian–Ottoman navy.
Despite this defeat, Egypt rebuilt its fleet and used it effectively during the Egyptian–Ottoman War of 1831–1833, landing troops at Jaffa in support of Egyptian forces advancing into Syria. Further success followed in 1839, when the Ottoman fleet defected to Egypt after the Battle of Nezib. However, European intervention curtailed Egyptian ambitions, and Egypt eventually became a British protectorate, limiting independent naval development until the twentieth century.

Role in Arab–Israeli Conflicts

The Egyptian Navy played a more limited role compared to land and air forces during the Arab–Israeli conflicts, but several key naval engagements were historically significant. During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Egyptian sloop El Amir Farouq was sunk off the Gaza coast by Israeli naval forces, marking one of the earliest naval clashes of the conflict.
In the Suez Crisis of 1956, Egypt deployed the destroyer Ibrahim el Awal to shell Haifa, though it was ultimately captured by Israeli forces. Egyptian naval units also engaged British and French warships in attempts to disrupt amphibious landings. Despite suffering losses, Egyptian sailors demonstrated notable resistance under technologically superior opposition.
The closure of the Strait of Tiran by Egypt, blocking Israeli access to the port of Eilat, became one of the principal triggers of the Six-Day War in 1967. Although large-scale naval engagements were limited, Israeli forces conducted special operations against Egyptian ports, while Egyptian naval movements sought to deter further escalation.

Missile Warfare and the War of Attrition

In October 1967, the Egyptian Navy achieved a historic milestone in naval warfare by becoming the first navy to sink a warship using anti-ship missiles. An Egyptian Komar-class fast attack craft fired Styx missiles that sank the Israeli destroyer INS Eilat off Port Said. This event transformed global naval doctrine and demonstrated the effectiveness of missile-armed small combatants against larger surface vessels.
During the War of Attrition (1967–1970), Egyptian naval commandos conducted several successful operations against Israeli targets, including raids on the port of Eilat and attacks on Israeli shipping and infrastructure. These operations underscored the growing importance of naval special forces and asymmetric maritime tactics.
In the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Egyptian Navy laid mines in the Gulf of Aqaba to block maritime access to Eilat and attempted to restrict Israeli shipping in the Mediterranean. Coastal artillery units also supported ground operations along the Suez Canal, integrating naval and land-based firepower.

Cold War Expansion and Foreign Assistance

The majority of the modern Egyptian Navy was built during the 1960s with substantial assistance from the Soviet Union, which supplied missile boats, submarines, and training. During the 1980s, Egypt diversified its procurement, acquiring vessels from China, Western Europe, and the United States.
By 1989, the navy comprised approximately 18,000 personnel, supported by around 2,000 coast guard personnel. In the 1990s, the United States became a major supplier, and American shipbuilder Swiftships constructed around 30 vessels for Egypt, including patrol boats, mine hunters, and survey ships made of steel and aluminium.
This diversification reduced reliance on any single supplier and improved interoperability with Western navies.

Organisation and Bases

The Egyptian Navy is organised into two principal fleets:

• The Mediterranean Fleet, responsible for the northern coastline and approaches to the Suez Canal
• The Red Sea Fleet, focused on safeguarding shipping lanes linking the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean

The naval headquarters and main base are located in Alexandria, with additional Mediterranean bases at Port Said, Garoub, and Mersa Matruh. Red Sea bases include Hurghada, Safaga, Berenice, Troglodytica, and Suez, reflecting the strategic importance of both maritime theatres.

Naval Aviation and Air Support

The Egyptian Navy does not operate an independent air arm and relies on the Egyptian Air Force for maritime aviation support. This cooperation provides maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and fleet protection.
Air assets supporting naval operations include:

• Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters for coastal reconnaissance
• Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters equipped with anti-submarine torpedoes
• Westland Sea King helicopters armed with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes
• Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye aircraft for maritime surveillance and early warning
• Beechcraft 1900 aircraft for patrol and reconnaissance

Submarine and Amphibious Forces

Egypt operates a capable submarine force, including German-built Type 209 submarines and upgraded Romeo-class submarines originally acquired from China. These submarines are equipped with modern Western sensors and are capable of launching Harpoon anti-ship missiles, providing a credible deterrent capability.
A major leap in power projection occurred with the acquisition of Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, beginning in 2016. These vessels significantly expanded Egypt’s ability to conduct helicopter operations, amphibious landings, and joint expeditionary missions, reinforcing its status as a regional maritime power.