Egypt's Air Defense System: Mobile Troop Anti-Aircraft Missile Systems
The Egyptian armed forces received the Kvadrat medium-range mobile complexes (the export version of the Kub SAM system) on a tracked chassis and the Strela-1M short-range SAM system on a BRDM-2 wheeled base before the Yom Kippur War, which began on October 6, 1973. At that time, these were the newest military assets of the military DefenseThe Kvadrat air defense missile system has proven itself particularly well in combat.
Following the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty of 1979, IDF units withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula, and the United States began providing defense assistance to Egypt, including funding part of its defense expenditures and supplying weapons. In the 1980s, in addition to the American-made MIM-23B I-Hawk target-based air defense systems, the Egyptian army also acquired the M48 Chaparral mobile short-range air defense system.
After the end of the Cold War, Russian-Egyptian defense cooperation resumed, and Egyptian air defense forces received modern anti-aircraft systems: the Buk-M1/M2, Tor-M1/M2, and S-300VM Antey-2500. At the same time, the Egyptian armed forces, seeking to diversify their military equipment purchases and avoid dependence on a single supplier, also purchased M1097 Avenger mobile short-range air defense systems from the United States.
Anti-aircraft missile system "Kvadrat"
Mobile anti-aircraft missile The 2K12E "Kvadrat" complexes were a very unpleasant surprise for the Israeli army during the Yom Kippur War. aviation and inflicted significant losses. This was largely due to the fact that these systems used a semi-active radar guidance system for anti-aircraft missiles, which was not detected by the radar warning systems integrated into the guidance systems of the S-75 and S-125 missile systems.
Self-propelled launchers 9P12E from the Kvadrat air defense missile system
According to reference data, by October 6, 1973, Egypt possessed 18 Kvadrat SAM system batteries. However, according to unconfirmed official reports, the Soviet Union transferred a total of 26 batteries.
According to the technical specifications drawn up by the USSR Ministry of Defense in the early 1960s, the Kub air defense missile system was developed as a mobile air defense system to cover tank Divisions. The division was supposed to be assigned an anti-aircraft missile regiment. The anti-aircraft missile regiment consisted of five firing batteries and a command battery. However, in practice, the Kubov anti-aircraft missile brigade was more often viewed as an air defense reserve for a tank or combined arms army, used in sectors designated by command. In the 1970s and 1980s, direct protection from air strikes for tank and motorized rifle units of the Soviet Army was typically provided by the Strela-1, Strela-10, and Osa mobile air defense systems.
The firing battery of the Kub-Kvadrat complex included: a self-propelled reconnaissance and guidance unit (SURN), four self-propelled launchers (SPU), a target designation receiving cabin (TDC), and transport and loading vehicles on the chassis of a ZIL-131 vehicle with a special hydraulic lift for handling missiles.
Self-propelled reconnaissance and guidance unit 1S91E from the Kvadrat air defense missile system
The SURN contained two tiers of antennas for two radars: a target acquisition station and a missile guidance station. The target acquisition station had a range of 3 to 70 km and an altitude of 30 to 8,000 m. The missile guidance station provided target acquisition, subsequent tracking, and illumination of the SAM's semi-active radar seeker. If the SAR was suppressed by electronic jamming, the target could be tracked angularly using a television-optical sight, but this would reduce the targeting accuracy. Three SAMs were mounted on the SPU. The launch platform was turned toward the target and the missiles were launched based on data received from the self-propelled reconnaissance and guidance unit via a VHF radio channel.
The Kub surface-to-air missile was the first in the USSR to use a semi-active homing head. The missile's ramjet engine ran on solid propellant, significantly simplifying maintenance and preparation for combat use. The first solid-propellant stage accelerated the missile to a cruising speed of Mach 1,5. After the booster stage's firing, the internal portion of the nozzle assembly was jettisoned to adjust the afterburner nozzle geometry to accommodate the sustainer engine. The Kub-M air defense system could engage airborne targets at ranges of 4–23 km and altitudes of 50–8,000 m.
The SURN 1S91 provided for the autonomous use of the air defense system, but the combat effectiveness of the complex increased significantly when interacting with the control battery, which included the P-15, P-18, P-40 radar stations, the PRV-16 mobile radio altimeter and the K-1 "Crab" control cabin.
During the Yom Kippur War, Israel irreparably lost at least 120 aircraft, approximately a third of which were shot down by Kvadrat air defense missile systems (Egyptian and Syrian). The Egyptian military highly valued the Kvadrat's combat potential and mobility. Although, following the 1973 fighting, the Americans quickly began producing SURN 1S91 detection systems and jamming pods and transferred them to the Israelis, Kvadrat air defense missile systems, when used correctly, still posed a serious threat to aircraft operating at low and medium altitudes.
Unlike the S-75, S-125, and MIM-23B I-Hawk SAM systems, the Kvadrat air defense system was not permanently deployed as part of the Egyptian Air Defense Force. The Egyptians also sought to conserve the lifespan of their combat vehicles and avoid long marches. Crew training, including activating the systems' combat readiness and engaging the "high" mode on the SURN 1S91, took place at designated sites at their permanent locations, along with flights by Egyptian Air Force combat aircraft. Given the cessation of Soviet-Egyptian military-technical cooperation and the lack of legal access to spare parts and consumables, this approach allowed for an extended service life of the materiel and the maintenance of the required level of personnel training.
In the mid-1990s, Cairo approached Moscow with a request to help repair the existing "Kvadrat" satellites and bring their hardware up to modern standards.
The operator's workstation for SURN 1C91 after the update
As a result of work carried out on Egyptian SURN 1S91 missiles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, some electronic units based on outdated vacuum tube devices were replaced with modern components, and operators were provided with new information display, navigation, and communication systems. Also, under a contract with Rosoboronexport, approximately two hundred overhauled missiles were delivered, with their solid propellant replaced, electronic components updated, and control actuators serviced.
The Kvadrat SAM system still serves in the Egyptian Air Defense Forces. According to Military Balance, 14 batteries were operational in 2023.
M48 Chaparral surface-to-air missile system
Before the Yom Kippur War, the Egyptian army's air defenses were reinforced with approximately three dozen Strela-1 air defense systems on the BRDM-2 chassis. However, due to their small numbers, poor use, and modest combat performance, these systems failed to perform well in the war with Israel.
Unlike the highly successful Strela-2M man-portable air defense missile system with an IR-homing head, which was widely used, the 9M31 anti-aircraft missile from the Strela-1 system had a photocontrast homing head, which significantly reduced the probability of capturing an air target compared to the Strela-2M MANPADS and did not allow firing at dusk.
Combat vehicle 9A31 of the Strela-1 mobile close-range air defense system
Although the Strela-1 mobile SAM systems remained in service until at least 2017, their actual combat value was limited, and by the early 1980s, the Egyptian Ground Forces command began searching for another self-propelled short-range system. Egyptian generals needed a mobile SAM system designed to protect motorized and tank regiments, previously protected by MANPADS, self-propelled, and towed anti-aircraft guns, from low-flying air attacks. Had Egypt and the Soviet Union not ceased military-technical cooperation, Egyptian air defenses could have been reinforced with the quite effective Strela-10 self-propelled systems on the MT-LB chassis. But after rapprochement with the United States and the conclusion of a peace treaty with Israel, deliveries of the Soviet weapons to Egypt became impossible.
In the 1980s, the United States delivered approximately 100 M48 Chaparral self-propelled air defense systems in several batches as part of its military aid program, of which 48 were operational as of 2025. Egypt received used MIM-72C self-propelled missile launchers from US Army stockpiles.
The M730 combat vehicle is based on the M113 armored personnel carrier. In the stowed position, arches are mounted above the launcher, which are then covered with a canvas cover. As a result, the SAM system looks like a standard military tracked cargo carrier. When converted to the combat position, the launcher is uncovered, the arches are attached to the front of the vehicle, and the driver's cabin is covered with a protective flame shield.
An Egyptian M730 combat vehicle from the M48A3 Chaparral air defense system.
A rotating launcher with four missiles is located on the platform behind the cabin, along with the operator's cabin, equipped with air conditioning and an adjustable seat. Information about the system's technical status is displayed on the control panel. The operator can monitor system preparation, select a missile for firing, determine the launch sequence, and test the combat vehicle's systems. Each self-propelled launcher is equipped with a friend-or-foe detection system. In addition to the missiles carried on the launcher, the Chaparel SAM system's self-propelled transporter carries eight additional SAMs in a stowage rack.
In 2014, the United States delivered MIM-72F missiles equipped with a more effective low-smoke solid propellant, increasing the maximum firing range from 6000 to 9000 meters and the ceiling to 3000 meters. The minimum altitude of the engaged targets is 15 meters. The upgraded SAM also received a new guidance section, a Doppler radio fuse, and a high-efficiency 12,6 kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead loaded with 3 kg of octol with prefabricated cubic tungsten alloy fragments. These improvements give the missile limited all-aspect capability, allowing it to be used on collision courses. The missile is 2,91 meters long and weighs 88 kg. Its maximum flight speed is approximately 700 m/s. The crew searches for targets visually, but it is possible to receive preliminary target designation from the radar.
Although the M48A3 Chaparral air defense systems are over 40 years old, the Egyptian Air Defense Forces have no plans to part with them. In 2019-2020, the least worn M730 vehicles were overhauled and equipped with new communications and navigation systems. At the same time, the United States donated spare parts, components, and missiles stored in warehouses. The existing M48A3 Chaparral self-propelled systems are expected to remain in service for approximately another 10 years.
M1097 Avenger surface-to-air missile system
In the late 1990s, Cairo ordered 50 M1097 Avenger close-in self-propelled air defense systems, based on the HMMWV all-terrain vehicle chassis and equipped with the AN/TWQ-1 search and targeting system. The next batch of 25 Avenger combat vehicles arrived in 2007. This acquisition significantly strengthened the army's air defense capabilities and decommissioned its aging towed 37mm anti-aircraft guns and twin 30mm M53/70 Praga self-propelled guns.
Egyptian M1097 Avenger close-in air defense systems
The Avenger air defense system, developed and manufactured by Boeing, is capable of engaging air targets on a collision course and in pursuit at altitudes of 0,5–3,8 km and ranges of 0,5–5,5 km. The vehicle weighs 4,3 tons in its combat position. Its maximum road speed is 105 km/h. Its cruising range is up to 560 km. It has a crew of two. Despite its relatively small size and weight, the M1097 Avenger system boasts a high level of automation, fast reaction times, good firepower, and maneuverability. It can operate during both day and night, as well as in adverse weather conditions.
The system's main component is a gyrostabilized platform, which houses a Stinger SAM launcher (two packages of four), optical and thermal imaging target detection and tracking systems, a laser rangefinder, a friend-or-foe identification system, and control, display, and communications systems. The operator's cabin is located in the center of the platform, featuring a transparent screen projecting an aiming point marker. The operator tracks the target visually using an optical sight, or with a thermal imager in poor weather and at night. The system is capable of automatically tracking the target, determining the distance to it, and engaging it while moving at speeds of up to 35 km/h. The operator is also equipped with a receiver unit and display for receiving data from radar detection systems.
The system also includes a remote-controlled 12,7mm M3P machine gun, manufactured by the Belgian company Fabrique Nationale Herstal, with a rate of fire of 1,100 rounds per minute and a 200-round magazine capacity. The machine gun is mounted on the right side of the platform, beneath the missile container. In the past, the large-caliber Browning was considered almost useless against modern air attack weapons. However, due to the recent sharp increase in the "unmanned aerial threat," experts have revised their opinion.
Several years ago, the Egyptian Avengers were modernized, receiving improved target acquisition and target acquisition systems, new communications equipment, and expanded capabilities for exchanging information with other air defense systems and external target designation from various sources.
Anti-aircraft missile systems "Buk-M1-2/M2"
Approximately 20 years ago, Egypt purchased an undisclosed number of 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2 systems from Russia, intended to bolster the air defense of tank and mechanized divisions. Egyptian sources claim ten batteries, but this number is likely exaggerated.
The 9A310M1-2 self-propelled launcher and the 9A39M1 launcher-loader of the 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2 anti-aircraft missile system of the Egyptian Armed Forces
According to unconfirmed reports, these were systems taken from the Russian Army's air defense system, but whether this is true is unknown. This theory is partially supported by the fact that the combat vehicles were painted green, an unusual color for desert terrain, and did not appear new.
The Buk-M1-2 mobile surface-to-air missile system, like the entire Buk family, traces its lineage back to the Kub air defense missile system. The Buk-M1-2 modification was formally accepted into service in 1998, but for obvious reasons, few of these systems were built.
The main difference from the previous, highly-produced 9K37M1 Buk-M1 variant was the introduction of the new 9M317 SAM with a launch weight of 715 kg. Other components of the system were also modernized. Essentially, the Buk-M1-2 is a "minor" modernization of the Buk-M1 SAM system, which, at minimal cost, significantly improved combat performance thanks to the introduction of the new 9M317 SAM. The developments gained during the development of the Buk-M1-2 SAM system were subsequently used to create more advanced systems.
In addition to its enhanced capabilities against aerodynamic targets, the Buk-M1-2 air defense system acquired limited anti-missile capabilities. It now defeats tactical ballistic missiles, air-launched missiles at ranges of up to 20 km, cruise missiles with a low radar cross-section, surface ships at ranges of up to 25 km, and radar-contrast ground targets at ranges of up to 15 km. The farthest edge of the engagement zone has been increased to 45 km, and the altitude limit to 25 km. Flight speed is up to 1230 m/s, and acceleration is up to 24 g.
Self-propelled launcher with 9M317 anti-aircraft missiles
Externally, the 9M317 SAM differs from the 9M38M1 used in the Buk-M1 system by its shorter wing chord. It uses a radio-corrected inertial system for guidance, combined with a semi-active radar seeker with an onboard computer, and proportional navigation guidance. The missile is equipped with a dual-channel fuse—an active pulse fuse and a semi-active radar fuse—as well as a contact sensor system. The rod warhead weighs 70 kg. When firing at surface and ground targets, the radio fuse is deactivated and a contact fuse is used. The missile boasts a high level of reliability; a fully assembled and armed SAM requires no inspections or adjustments for its entire service life of 10 years.
The main components of the Buk-M1-2 system are based on the GM-569 chassis. The 9A310M1-2 self-propelled gun system's hardware includes a television-optical sight and a laser rangefinder.
In 2013, the first battery of 9K317 Buk-M2 missile systems was delivered to Egypt. According to reference data, the Egyptian Air Defense Forces currently operate four of these systems.
The Buk-M2 was officially accepted into service in Russia in 2008. This system's radar equipment and display systems have undergone a complete overhaul. All vehicles in the system have replaced their cathode-ray tube (CRT) screens with multifunctional color LCD monitors. All combat vehicles are equipped with modern digital radios capable of transmitting and receiving both voice information and coded target designation and distribution data. Satellite navigation is used in addition to inertial navigation equipment. The system can be operated in various climate zones; the vehicles are equipped with air conditioning for this purpose.
The 9A317 self-propelled fire unit on the GM-569 tracked chassis differs externally from the previous models of the self-propelled fire unit by the flat surface of the radar with a phased antenna array.
Self-propelled fire installation 9А317
The 9A317 self-propelled howitzer can search for targets within a zone of ±45° in azimuth and 70° in elevation. The detection range for a target with an RCS of 2 m² flying at an altitude of 3 km is up to 120 km. Target tracking is performed within a sector of ±60° in azimuth and -5 to +85° in elevation. The system is capable of simultaneously detecting up to 10 targets and engaging up to four. The self-propelled howitzer's response time is 4 seconds, and it can be brought into combat readiness after a position change in 20 seconds. The crew also has a 4-hour optoelectronic system with thermal imaging and television channels, significantly increasing the air defense system's resistance to interference and survivability.
Aerial targets are detected by SOC 9S18M1-3 with a centimeter-range coherent-pulse survey radar with electronic beam scanning in a vertical plane mounted on a GM-567M tracked chassis. Protection against interference is provided by the instantaneous adjustment of the pulse frequency, as well as by blocking the range intervals. From radar signals from the ground and other passive interference, the radar is protected by compensating for losses in direction, wind speed and selectivity of real targets. The target detection range with an EPR of 2 m² is 160 km.
The updated 9C510 command post was able to simultaneously process 60 targets and issue 36 target designations. In this case, the time from receiving information to transferring to firing systems is no more than 2 seconds.
The 9A316 launcher-loader is mounted on a GM-577 tracked chassis. Like earlier Buk-family SAM systems, it can be used as a launcher and a transporter-loader. A four-person crew can load the 9A317 with 9M317 missiles in 15 minutes. Autoloading time is 13 minutes.
The Buk-M2 air defense missile system has been updated with a new component: the 9S36 target illumination and missile guidance station. Its characteristics are similar to the radar used on the 9A317 self-propelled munitions (SAM).
9S36 missile target and missile guidance station
The phased array radar antenna post, rising to a height of up to 22 meters, is designed to guide the 9M317 SAM to targets flying at low and extremely low altitudes, in rugged and mountainous terrain. The rising antenna post expands the radar horizon at extremely low altitudes by more than 2,5 times.
Tor-M1E/M2E anti-aircraft missile systems
Apart from the French-made Crotale P4R air defense systems currently used in point-based air defense, Egypt lacked mobile short-range air defense systems with their own radar detection capabilities. To address this shortcoming, the first battery of 9K331E Tor-M1E air defense systems (four combat vehicles) was acquired in 2006. Procurement continued, and by 2012, four batteries were operational. The export price of one combat vehicle in 2005 was $25 million.
Egyptian Tor-M1Es in position
The battery consists of four combat vehicles, transport and loading vehicles, and a vehicle for transporting SAMs in the TPK. The Barnaul-T self-propelled automated system is designed to control the Tor-M1 battery. It independently conducts air reconnaissance, receives information from associated detection systems, provides target trajectory data, generates a scenario for anti-aircraft units, and assigns targets.
The Tor-M1 air defense missile system is an evolutionary development of the previous 9K330 Tor modification, and externally, these systems are very similar. During the development of the Tor-M1 air defense missile system, the combat vehicle's electronic units and battery control systems were primarily upgraded. The hardware of the modernized system includes a new computer with two target channels and a decoy selection system. The target acquisition station was upgraded to include a three-channel digital signal processing system. This significantly improved operational capabilities in challenging jamming environments. The all-round coherent pulse radar, operating in the centimeter band, is capable of detecting low-altitude targets at a range of 25 km. The radio command guidance station's performance was also improved for tracking helicopters hovering at low altitude. An automatic target tracker was added to the television-optical sighting system. The Tor-M1 air defense system can simultaneously engage two targets, guiding two missiles to each. Reaction time has also been reduced: 7,4 seconds when firing from a fixed position, and 9,7 seconds when firing at a short pause.
The 9M331 surface-to-air missile with improved performance was developed for the Tor-M1 system. To speed up the loading process, a missile module consisting of a transport and launch container with four cells was used. The process of replacing two modules using the TZM took 25 minutes.
9M331 missile module
The missile's launch weight is 165 kg. Its engagement range against aerial targets is 1 to 12 km. Its altitude range is 10 m to 6 km. Maximum target speed is up to 700 m/s. It can engage targets maneuvering with accelerations of up to 10 g. The probability of hitting a fighter-type target, depending on its profile, flight altitude, and jamming environment, is 0,45-0,8.
In 2013, Egypt received an undisclosed number of 9K332 Tor-M2E air defense missile systems. Experts believe four batteries were delivered. The most noticeable external difference between the Tor-M2 air defense missile system and earlier variants is the different antenna of the target acquisition system with a slotted phased array (PAA). The new PAA system is capable of operating in environments with intense active jamming and has good capabilities for detecting airborne targets with low radar cross-sections.
The new computing system has expanded data processing capabilities and allows for the simultaneous tracking of 48 targets. The Tor-M2 combat vehicle is equipped with an electro-optical detection system capable of operating in darkness. Radar information can now be exchanged between combat vehicles within line-of-sight, enhancing situational awareness and enabling the efficient distribution of aerial targets. Increased automation of combat operations has allowed the crew to be reduced to three. The maximum engagement range of a target flying at 300 m/s using the 9M331D SAM is 15,000 m. The altitude range is 10-10000 m. The course range is up to 8000 m. It is capable of simultaneously engaging four targets with the guidance of eight missiles.
Google Earth satellite image of Egyptian Tor air defense missile systems and a Barnaul-TE self-propelled automated system at an air defense training ground. The image was taken in November 2019.
Egyptian Tor-M1E and Tor-M2E air defense systems are regularly displayed at military parades and have also been spotted at an air defense range 20 km southwest of Cairo.
S-300VM "Antey-2500" long-range anti-aircraft missile system
One of the most valuable assets of the Egyptian Air Defense Forces is the S-300VM Antey-2500 long-range anti-aircraft missile system. A contract for four battalions was signed in 2013, and the first battalion arrived at the port of Alexandria in March 2015.
The contract value was not disclosed, but according to expert estimates, it could have reached $1,2 billion. The customer fully accepted all components of the S-300VM air defense system in 2017.
The S-300V system is unique in many ways. Before the collapse of the USSR, it was planned that the long-range air defense missile system would replace the Krug air defense missile system at the frontline and army levels, as it had already failed to fully meet jamming immunity requirements in the early 1980s. Furthermore, the military desired a universal, multi-channel combat system capable of, in addition to engaging air targets, protecting troop concentrations, headquarters, and other important installations from attacks by tactical and operational-tactical ballistic missiles. All the main components of the S-300V air defense missile system are mounted on standardized, self-propelled, tracked chassis with high cross-country capability and equipped with autonomous power supply, navigation, orientation, topographic surveying, life support, and communications systems.
The S-300V air defense missile system was conceived as a universal anti-missile and air defense system. It was intended to provide protection against MGM-52 Lance and MGM-31A Pershing IA ballistic missiles, SRAM air-launched aeroballistic missiles, cruise missiles, long-range bombers, tactical and carrier-based aircraft, and attack helicopters—during their mass deployment in the face of active enemy fire and electronic countermeasures.
Due to the need to engage aerodynamic and ballistic targets, the S-300V air defense system required the development of two new types of anti-aircraft missiles, and to ensure the required level of mobility in off-road frontline conditions, all the system's main components were mounted on a tracked chassis. On the original S-300V, the main difference between the 9A82 self-propelled launcher and 9A84 launcher-loader system and the 9A83 and 9A85 SPUs is the use of larger and heavier missiles. This necessitated the use of more powerful loading and loading systems and led to a reduction in the number of SAMs per vehicle to two.
Due to the system's high complexity and the need to address specific challenges, development and refinement of the S-300V dragged on, and its adoption into service occurred shortly before the collapse of the USSR. Consequently, approximately ten times fewer S-300V air defense systems were produced than the S-300P.
The export version of the S-300VM is the result of a comprehensive upgrade of the S-300V air defense system. This system now effectively counters both ballistic missiles with a launch range of up to 2500 km and all types of aerodynamic and aeroballistic targets. The S-300VM utilizes the new 9M83M SAMs, which have a range of up to 200 km against aerodynamic targets and can maneuver with up to 30 G, and the 9M82M, which can intercept ballistic targets flying at speeds up to 4500 m/s on a collision course. The maximum firing range against ballistic missiles is 40 km. Up to four missiles can be guided to a single target.
The division can simultaneously engage 24 targets, targeting each with two anti-aircraft missiles, and provides all-round defense against aerodynamic targets. In the missile defense and air defense mode, the division can repel a strike from two to three ballistic missiles, one to two of which simultaneously, with subsequent strikes occurring at intervals of one to two minutes.
An inert 9M82M anti-aircraft missile, with a transport and launch container nearby.
The modernization of the radar stations significantly increased their energy potential. The introduction of more sophisticated computing systems and software reduced the system's response time and increased the speed of information processing. New georeferencing and navigation systems increased the accuracy of determining the coordinates of air defense system elements, which, combined with the use of digital communications equipment, improved combat control. These and other improvements doubled the system's maximum firing range against ballistic missiles compared to the S-300V, and its effectiveness against aerodynamic targets increased by approximately 1,5 times.
The S-300VM anti-aircraft missile battalion is quite large and comprises various elements: a 9S457M mobile command post, a 9S15M2 Obzor-3 all-round surveillance radar, a 9S19M2 Imbir software surveillance radar, a 9S32M multi-channel missile guidance station, 9A83M self-propelled launchers with four 9M83M SAMs, 9A84M launcher-loaders, and truck-mounted technical support and maintenance facilities. Two anti-aircraft missile battalions are consolidated into a brigade. The brigade is provided with additional air target detection radars (59N6-E Protivnik-E radar) and a radar data processing station. The S-300VM anti-aircraft missile system, unlike the S-300V, does not have separate heavy launchers and light launchers/loaders for cost reasons. As a result, the S-300VM system carries light SAMs on its launchers, and heavy anti-missiles only on its launchers/loaders.
After the S-300VM air defense system was mastered by its crews, the Egyptian Air Defense Forces received a versatile long-range weapon capable of countering both ballistic missiles and large aerodynamic targets at over-the-horizon range. However, the Egyptians do not possess a large stockpile of the expensive 9M82M and 9M83M SAMs, and the S-300VM battalion's equipment requires separate air defense. drones-kamikaze anti-aircraft missile systems of the near zone and anti-aircraft artillery.
To be continued ...
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