Like a Gathering Storm: The Egyptian Air Force as a Central Instrument in Advancing Egypt’s Updated National Interests in the Post-Revolutionary Era

The events of the “Arab Spring” and the internal crises in Egypt between 2011 and 2013 undermined Egypt’s standing in the international arena and affected its domestic stability. Since 2014, the country has faced a complex set of strategic challenges, including social and economic crises, regional pressures, a decline in its status as a leading Arab power, the spread of civil wars along its borders, and the growing threat of internal terrorism that endangers its stability.

In response, Egypt has adapted its national interests to ensure regime survival and to reinforce state power. This article examines how these dynamics are reflected in the Egyptian Air Force. To this end, it analyzes three principal domains of activity over the past decade: participation in regional and international coalitions, counterterrorism operations, and force development for multiple missions.

The authors argue that the Egyptian Air Force constitutes a central pillar of the armed forces in advancing these interests. Their main conclusion is that the Egyptian Air Force today is not merely an aerial component within a military force, but also serves as an instrument for projecting and consolidating Egypt’s power, both domestically and regionally. The Egyptian case highlights a broader trend observable in many 21st-century states, where air power functions not only as a military tool but also as a strategic instrument for advancing national policy. This study seeks to capture this phenomenon through an analysis of the interplay between the military, society, and regional and international interests.