Mediocrates
02-20-2011, 02:29 PM
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/articles/20110220.aspx
Meanwhile, Egypt expects over a thousand U.S. M-1 tanks to make a difference. The problem is that the Egyptians do not spend enough time training with these vehicles, nor do they maintain them well. Same with the 2,500 older U.S. M-60 and Russian tanks. Egyptian training and maintenance suffered in comparison to how the Israelis operate. That will make a big difference in any future war. Egypt has the fourth largest F-16 force in the world, with over 210 aircraft in service and two dozen on the way. The new order would give Egypt 240 F-16s. This is the core of their air power, as their remaining force consists of aging French Mirage F5s and Mirage 2000s, Russian and Chinese MiG-21s, and a few U.S. F-4s. The main reason Egypt has so many F-16s is because, as part of the 1977 peace deal with Israel, the U.S. has been providing several billion dollars in military and economic aid a year. The understanding is that most of this money will be used to buy American products. The F-16 seemed like a good choice, if only because Israel was very happy with them. But the Israelis have upgraded their F-16s with locally made electronics and weapons, while stressing lots of pilot training. Any future war between Israel and Egypt would see a lot of F-16s shot down, and few of them would be Israeli.
Point of reference, an F-16 requires between 8 and 30 hrs maintenance time per flight hour depending on the bloc type and maintenance life cycle. Older planes require even more maintenance support. Modern tanks, especially the JET POWERED Abrams, require similar maintenance duty cycles.
And even with this level of maintenance, most armies and air forces are happy with 75% duty readiness. 55-65% is more typical.
That's just to keep them running. That doesn't include crew training.
Meanwhile, Egypt expects over a thousand U.S. M-1 tanks to make a difference. The problem is that the Egyptians do not spend enough time training with these vehicles, nor do they maintain them well. Same with the 2,500 older U.S. M-60 and Russian tanks. Egyptian training and maintenance suffered in comparison to how the Israelis operate. That will make a big difference in any future war. Egypt has the fourth largest F-16 force in the world, with over 210 aircraft in service and two dozen on the way. The new order would give Egypt 240 F-16s. This is the core of their air power, as their remaining force consists of aging French Mirage F5s and Mirage 2000s, Russian and Chinese MiG-21s, and a few U.S. F-4s. The main reason Egypt has so many F-16s is because, as part of the 1977 peace deal with Israel, the U.S. has been providing several billion dollars in military and economic aid a year. The understanding is that most of this money will be used to buy American products. The F-16 seemed like a good choice, if only because Israel was very happy with them. But the Israelis have upgraded their F-16s with locally made electronics and weapons, while stressing lots of pilot training. Any future war between Israel and Egypt would see a lot of F-16s shot down, and few of them would be Israeli.
Point of reference, an F-16 requires between 8 and 30 hrs maintenance time per flight hour depending on the bloc type and maintenance life cycle. Older planes require even more maintenance support. Modern tanks, especially the JET POWERED Abrams, require similar maintenance duty cycles.
And even with this level of maintenance, most armies and air forces are happy with 75% duty readiness. 55-65% is more typical.
That's just to keep them running. That doesn't include crew training.