“A Growing Threat”: Israeli Defense Chief Sounds Alarm Over Egypt’s Expanding Military Power

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – As he prepares to step down from his post, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has issued a stark warning about the rapid expansion and formidable strength of the Egyptian military.

In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Halevi did not mince words, calling Egypt’s current military capabilities “deeply alarming”—a revelation that underscores growing unease within Israel’s defense establishment.

“We are very worried about this (the strength of the Egyptian Armed Forces). Egypt has a massive military, equipped with advanced combat systems, fighter jets, submarines, warships, and modern tanks, along with a vast number of infantry troops,” he said.

While Egypt may not pose an immediate threat to Israel,  Halevi delivered a chilling warning—the balance could shift at any moment, depending on changes in Egypt’s leadership.

This revelation comes amid a Channel 14 report from February, which claimed that Israel has already begun covert intelligence-gathering operations to track Egyptian military movements in the Sinai Peninsula.

According to sources within Israel’s security and military establishments, intelligence suggests that Egypt is quietly repositioning its forces in Sinai—an action that, if confirmed, could be a direct violation of the 1979 Camp David Accords and a potential game-changer in regional security dynamics.

The 1979 Camp David Accords carefully divided Sinai into three zones, imposing strict limits on military deployments to ensure a delicate balance of power.

But now, that balance appears to be shifting.

Recent modifications have granted Egyptian security and military forces unprecedented access to zones that were once strictly demilitarized—a move that could have far-reaching consequences.

Adding to the tension, an Israeli military analyst claimed that the Pentagon has reached out to Egypt’s military, demanding clarification on these developments.

Yet, despite U.S. involvement, Israel is not standing idly by—reports indicate that it has ramped up intelligence-gathering operations in Sinai, moving forward without waiting for Washington’s intervention.

Concerns within Israel’s defense and security community have intensified following reports that Egypt has acquired J-10CE fighter jets, along with China’s PL-15 beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missiles.

Israeli defense media outlets warn that the acquisition of J-10C fighters and PL-15 missiles could significantly enhance Egypt’s air force capabilities and disrupt the current balance of air power in the Middle East, which has long been dominated by Israel.

The PL-15 missile, boasting a Mach 4 speed and an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, is believed to have an operational range exceeding 300 km, making it one of the world’s longest-range air-to-air missiles.

According to Israeli defense site Nziv, Egypt’s interest in the J-10C “Vigorous Dragon” is part of a broader strategy to modernize its air power and diversify its defense procurement beyond reliance on U.S. military hardware.

Israel’s concerns are not solely about Egypt’s J-10C acquisition—the integration of PL-15 missiles into the Egyptian Air Force is seen as a far more significant threat.

Designed for beyond-visual-range aerial engagements (BVR), the PL-15 missile could allow Egyptian fighter jets to engage enemy aircraft from far greater distances than ever before.

For decades, Israel has maintained air superiority in the region, largely due to its access to cutting-edge U.S.-made weaponry, including fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets and advanced air defense systems.

However, China’s PL-15 missile could challenge Israel’s aerial dominance, particularly because it outperforms the U.S.-made AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile, which has a shorter effective range.

Recently, Defence Security Asia reported that Egypt may have already received its first batch of Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets, equipped with PL-15 BVR missiles.

This speculation was fueled by Chinese aerospace analyst Hurin, who posted images on his X (formerly Twitter) account showing two Egyptian J-10CE fighter jets in action.

Egypt is reportedly set to acquire up to 40 J-10CE fighter jets from China.

Two days ago, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied reports of a J-10CE sale to Egypt, dismissing them as “fake news.”

Egypt’s military expansion isn’t stopping in the skies—it’s also gearing up for a massive overhaul of its armored forces.

In a bold move to strengthen its ground warfare capabilities, Egypt is embarking on a nearly $5 billion (RM22.46 billion) modernization program, aiming to upgrade half of its M1 Abrams main battle tank fleet—a staggering 555 U.S.-made M1 Abrams tanks set to receive cutting-edge enhancements.

In a significant show of support, the U.S. State Department has greenlit a colossal $4.69 billion (RM21 billion) Foreign Military Sales package, paving the way for Egypt to transform its aging M1A1 Abrams tanks into the more advanced M1A1SA variant—a development that could reshape the balance of power on the battlefield.

The package includes 555 sets of AN/VAS-5B Driver Vision Enhancers (DVE-A), 555 Thermal Imaging System (TIS) Gunner’s Sights, M250 Smoke Grenade Launchers, AGT-1500 tank engines, X-1100 tank transmissions, spare parts, and support equipment.

Egypt’s journey with the M1A1 Abrams began in the early 1990s, when it partnered with the United States in a strategic co-production program to strengthen its armored forces.

Now, with its battle-hardened divisions undergoing a high-tech transformation and an arsenal of cutting-edge weaponry rapidly expanding, Egypt is ascending as a formidable military force in the region—a shift that Israel is monitoring with growing concern.

 — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA