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Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East

Egypt

Weapons of Mass Destruction Capabilities and Programs1

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Information on nuclear, biological & chemical weapons and missile programs, with details on capabilities, facilities, chronologies, and imports/exports.

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Updated: April 2006

Nuclear [2]
  • No evidence of a weapons program.
  • 22MW and 2MW research reactors at Inshas, both under IAEA safeguards.
  • Has engaged in basic scientific research since the 1960s.
  • Acceded to the NPT on 2/26/81; signed the CTBT on 10/14/96.
  • Signed the African Nuclear Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba) 4/11/96, not yet ratified.
  • IAEA investigating plutonium particles found in the vicinity of an Egyptian nuclear facility.
  • Repeatedly calls for a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone in the Middle East.
  • Member of the New Agenda Coalition
Chemical [3]
  • Used mustard gas in Yemeni civil war, 1963-1967.
  • Alleged to have supplied Syria with chemical weapons (CW) in early 1970s.
  • Supplied Iraq with CW agents and technology during the 1980s.
  • Unconfirmed reports of developing nerve agent feed stock plants.
  • Stockpile of chemical agents (mustard and nerve agents).
  • U.S. government alleges that Egypt has an offensive CW program.
  • Not a signatory to the CWC.
Biological [4]
  • May have a biological weapons program, though not large in scale.
  • Signed the BTWC on 4/10/72, but has not ratified it.
Ballistic missiles [5]
  • 100+ SS-1 (Scud-B) with 300km range and 985kg payload.
  • Approximately 90 Project T missiles (a Scud-B variant) with 450km range and 985kg payload.
  • Developing Scud-C variant production capability with DPRK assistance, with 550km range and 500kg payload.
  • Vector missile program with 800-1,200km range and 450-1,000kg payload cancelled in 1989 with the dissolution of a joint Iraqi/Argentine/Egyptian missile development program. Conflicting U.S. allegations that Egypt continues development.
  • U.S. and Israeli intelligence sources allege that Egyptian government-owned companies are obtaining and exporting U.S. and Western technology to Pyongyang, for modification, returned to Egypt as advanced missile components.
  • Arab British Dynamics, Helwan Machinery and Equipment Company, and Kader Factory Development Industries are companies sanctioned by the US government for exporting dual-use technology to DPRK, pursuant to the Arms Export Control Act of 1976.
  • Egypt allegedly working covertly with DPRK and China to develop missiles and nonconventional weapons.
Cruise missiles [6]
  • AS-5 Kelt with 400km range and 1,000kg payload.
  • Harpoon with 120km range and 220kg payload.
  • AS-1 Kennel with 100km range and 1,000kg payload.
  • HY-2 Silkworm with 95km range and 513kg payload.
  • Otomat Mk1 with 80km range and 210kg payload.
  • FL-1 with 95km range and 513kg payload.
  • Exocet (AM-39) with 65km range and 165kg payload.
  • SS-N-2a Styx with 43km range and 513kg payload.
Other Delivery Systems [7]
  • Fighter and ground-attack aircraft include: 40 F-16A/B (34 in service), approximately 177 F-16C/D, 32 F-4E Phantoms (25 in service), 18 Mirage 2000, 59 Mirage-5 (includes 6 Mirage 5DR), 42 Alpha Jet and Alpha Jet MS-2, 150 F-7 Shenyang/Mig-21 MF (obsolete), 44 F-6 Shenyang/FT-6 (obsolete).
  • Ground systems include artillery and rocket launchers, notably 721 FROG-7 artillery rockets with 12 launchers, which have a 70km range and carry a 450kg warhead, and 100 SAQR-80 rockets with 24 launchers, which have an 80km range and 200kg payload.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) [8]
  • Developing unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and satellites based on western technology.
  • 48 R4E-50 Skyeye mini-UAVs.
  • 50 Teledyne Ryan model 324 Scarab.
  • 2 Camcopter UAVs.
  • Aims to produce a UAV with a range of over 150km.
  • Plans to complete production of a multipurpose satellite by 2004.

Sources:

  1. This chart summarizes data available from public sources. Precise assessment of capabilities is difficult because most weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs remain secret and cannot be verified independently.
  2. Anthony H. Cordesman, Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East: National Efforts, War Fighting Capabilities, Weapons Lethality, Terrorism, and Arms Control Implications, (Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 2/98), p. 17; Cordesman, "Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East: The Impact on the Regional Military Balance," (Working Draft) revised 25 March 2005, p. 45, CSIS website, http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/050325_proliferation%5B1%5D.pdf; Ian O. Lesser and Ashley J. Tellis, Strategic Exposure: Proliferation around the Mediterranean (Santa Monica: RAND, 1996), p. 61; International Atomic Energy Agency, "Situation on 31 December 1996 with respect to the conclusion of safeguards agreements between the Agency and non-nuclear-weapon States in connection with the NPT," IAEA website, http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/program/safeguards/96tables/safenpt.html; Nuclear Engineering International, 1998 World Nuclear Industry Handbook, (Essex, UK: Wilmington Publishing Ltd, 1998), p. 113; "Statement by H.E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Before the Sixtieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly 21 September 2005," IAEA, 21 September 2005; George Jahn, "U.N.: Traces of Plutonium Found in Egypt," Associated Press, 3 November 2004; "Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zones Membership," Nuclear Threat Initiative website, http://www.nti.org/treaties-and-regimes/treaties/.
  3. Cordesman, p. 16; Lesser and Tellis, p. 62; Dany Shoham,"Chemical and Biological Weapons in Egypt," Nonproliferation Review, Spring-Summer 1998, p.48-58; E.J. Hogendoorn, "A Chemical Weapons Atlas," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, September/October 1997, pp. 35-39; "Arms Sanctions for Six African States," Africa Confidential, 10 January 1992, p. 8; in Proliferation Issues, 14 February 1992, p. 1; "Chemical Weapons in the Middle East," Arms Control Today, 10/92, pp. 44-45; Steve Rodan, "Bitter Choices: Israel's Chemical Dilemma," Jerusalem Post, 8/18/97, http://www.jpost.co.il; Douglas Davis, "Egypt to Netanyahu: Don't Come Empty-Handed," Jerusalem Post, 19 December 1997; http://www.jpost.com; Dana Priest, "In U.S. Weapons Crusade, Allies Get Scant Mention," Washington Post, 14 April 1998, p. 1; Shlomo Brom and Yiftah Shapir, editors, "The Middle East Military Balance," 1999-2000, p.166. According to the author Dr. Dany Shoham, there is no new information regarding the Egyptian CBW program updating. Avner Cohen, "Israel and Chemical/Biological Weapons: History, Deterrence and Arms Control," The Nonproliferation Review, Fall-Winter 2001, pp. 41-45.
  4. Cordesman, p. 17; Lesser and Tellis, p. 61; Shoham, pp. 7-9. A 1996 U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency annual report claimed that Egypt developed BW agents in 1972, and that there is "no evidence" that the program has been terminated. Cited in Barbara Starr, "Egypt and Syria Are BW Capable, Says Agency," Jane's Defence Weekly, 8/21/96, p. 15. Shoham, Dany, "Chemical and Biological Weapons in Egypt," The Nonproliferation Review, Spring-Summer 1998, p.48-58. According to the author Dr. Dany Shoham, there is no new information regarding the Egyptian CBW program updating.
  5. The Project T missile is a Scud-B variant, whose payload was probably reduced in order to extend its range. Jane's Defence Weekly, and AMI International's "Missile Sytem of the World" list the Vector missile program in Egypt as part of the tri-national program with Argentina and Iraq to develop a two-stage solid and liquid propellant missile with a range of 900km. Egypt is believed to have terminated the program in 1989. This program was referred to in Argentina as the Condor 2, and in Iraq as the Badr 2000. "Secret Egypt-Iraq Accord Collapses," Mideast Markets, 12 June 1989; Ed Blanche and Duncan Lennox, "Shifting Balance," Jane's Defence Weekly, 10 March 1999, pp.59-69; "Missile Systems of the World," AMI International, c.1999; Cordesman, p. 16; Lesser and Tellis, pp. 62-63, 69; "National Briefings: Egypt," Centre for Defence and International Security Studies website, http://www.cdiss.org/egypt_b.htm; "Egypt," Federation of American Scientists website, 12 September 1996, http://www.fas.org/irp/threat/missile/egypt.htm. Bill Gertz, "Cairo's Missile Buy Violates U.S. Laws," Washington Times, 21 June 1996, pp. A1, A22; Carol Giacomo, "U.S. Probing Reports of Egypt-N. Korea Deal," Reuters, 21 June 1996, in Executive News Service, 21 June 1996; Bill Gertz, "U.S. Starts Probe Of Egypt's Missile Buy," Washington Times, 22 June 1996, p. A2; "U.S. Checking Sale of Missiles," International Herald Tribune, 6/22/96; "Egypt Dismisses Flap Over Missile Reports," Reuters, 26 June 1996, in Executive News Service, 26 June 1996; Siona Jenkins, "Egypt Visit Touchy After Scud Buy, Netanyahu Criticism," Washington Times, 26 June 1996, p. A9; "Report Numbers Scuds N. Korea Sold to Iran, "Washington Times, 12 June 1996, p. A17; Andrew Rathmell and M. Ziarati, "Egypt's Military-Industrial Complex," Jane's Intelligence Review, October 94, pp. 455-460; Duncan Lennox, "Ballistic Missiles Hit New Heights," Jane's Defence Weekly, 30 April 94, pp. 24-28; Steven Rodan, "Israel, USA claim Egyptian missile links with N Korea," Jane's Defence Weekly, 23 February 2000, p.18; Federal Register, Volume 64, No.73 16 April 1999; "Egypt's Missile Efforts Succeed with Help from North Korea," The Risk Report,September-October 1996; "Egypt Conducts covert missile program," Middle East News Line, 3 April 2000; "Egypt," Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 23 February 2005, http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/egypt.pdf; Joshua Williams, "World Missile Chart," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace website, 2006, http://www.carnegieendowment.org/npp/ballisticmissilechart.cfm.
  6. Lennox, 30 April 94; Cordesman, p. 16; Lesser and Tellis, p. 64-65; "Exocet AM.39," GlobalSecurity.org, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/exocet.htm; "CSS-C-2-Silkworm / HY-1 / SY-1 / CSS-N-1 Scrubbrush / FL-1 Flying Dragon," GlobalSecurity.org, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/hy-1.htm.
  7. The Military Balance 1999-2000 (London: International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1999), pp. 161-179; Cordesman p. 16; Lesser and Tellis pp. 68-69; "Egypt," Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 23 February 2005; "The Egyptian Armed Forces," The Middle East Strategic Balance 2003-2004 (Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 2004), pp. 7-15.
  8. "Egypt develops UAVs, Satellites in Race with Israel," Middle East News Line (Cairo), 22 February 2000; "Egypt," Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 23 February 2005, p. 17.


Originally prepared by Michael Barletta and Erik Jorgensen, May 1998;
Updated by Sammy Salama and Alexis Zeiger, April 2006.

© Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies. April 2006


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