On December 7, 2023, the spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces announced the conclusion of the Third International Defense Industries Exhibition (EDEX-2023), which took place from December 4-7, 2023. The event has solidified its status as a prominent global event among similar international exhibitions. It is the largest defense show in Africa, garnering international acclaim from military circles worldwide and attracting a significant public attendance.
EDEX-2023 featured prominent exhibitors and global companies in the fields of armament, defense, and security, both regionally and internationally, with numerous defense ministers, chiefs of staff, and high-level military delegations from various countries in attendance.
The exhibition highlighted specific armament trends and approaches that align with recent changes in conflicts and military operations, as well as future technologies anticipated to address current or future risks. These trends can be outlined as follows:
1. Localization and Enhancement of Egyptian National Military Industries
In recent years, Egypt has pursued a policy of diversifying its armament sources while providing substantial support to military manufacturing institutions. This support aims to expand the acquisition of expertise through international partnerships with various military manufacturers and to design and produce local products. This initiative not only supports the capabilities of the Egyptian military but also competes with foreign counterparts in global markets, as evident at EDEX-2023.
On December 5, 2023, Lieutenant General Mokhtar Abdel Latif, Head of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, told Bloomberg that many products were showcased for the first time, with 100% Egyptian manufacturing. These included:
The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s launch of the “Sagam al-Jabbar 910” frigate, a MEKO A200 class vessel for the Egyptian Navy. This frigate is the largest naval vessel manufactured locally, completed within two years, and is among the best in its class globally due to its advanced surveillance and weapon systems, enhancing the existing frigate fleet of the Egyptian Navy.
New large-scale drones with long-range capabilities and substantial payloads such as “Ahmes,” “6-October,” and “30-June,” which can fly at speeds of 260 km/h and have a maximum endurance of 30 hours.
“Taba-1/2” target drones, primarily used for training air defense forces to simulate enemy targets.
The “Drone and Suicide Drone Hunter,” produced by the Arab International Optical Company, featuring an upgraded engagement system with automatic target tracking, and equipped with a 14.5mm caliber gun.
“Raad 200” rocket launcher, produced at a defense production facility with 100% Egyptian design and execution. It operates on a rapid track system, launching multiple rockets simultaneously, and is equipped with modern electronic systems for remote targeting. It can fire 20 rockets in 12 seconds.
The “Timsah 6” armored personnel carrier, showcased for the first time, features a detachable and replaceable capsule, carrying up to 9 soldiers. The vehicle offers significant protection against projectiles and mines with br6 and stranga3 protection levels.
“Hafez” aerial bombs, free-fall bombs weighing up to 2000 pounds, capable of penetrating reinforced concrete up to 180 cm.
A multi-role mobile command and control center, designed and manufactured in Egypt with 100% local production for controlling combat operations, securing airspace, and borders.
A new tracked infantry fighting vehicle named Sena 200, which accommodates 6 fighters and features a remotely controlled weapon system (RCWS).
The new high-energy electromagnetic pulse system EDE-100A, 100% Egyptian-designed and manufactured, with a capacity of up to 50 Hertz.
The Striker targeting and observation system, equipped with night vision capabilities, integrated onto armored vehicles.
The Egyptian remote control and engagement system Eagle-1, equipped with a thermal camera capable of detecting individuals from 5200 meters and vehicles from 9400 meters, with a primary weapon of 12.7 M2 and a magazine capacity of up to 400 rounds.
105 and 120 mm ammunition made from tungsten alloy, designed for penetrating heavy armor.
Thermobaric projectiles for RPG shoulder-fired launchers and the “Cobra Tandem” projectile designed for penetrating reactive armor.
Radar “EMBR-16A”, developed and produced at the Banha Electronics Factory, with a maximum detection range of up to 350 km at an altitude of 20 km.
An Egyptian mine-clearing system for anti-tank mines and an advanced electronic anti-tank mine.
Vehicle self-defense systems against laser-guided weapons, including an LWR warning device, smoke grenades, and laser-guided weapon countermeasure systems.
The DJ-400 Egyptian drone jamming device, used to counter small UAV threats, including commercial and FPV drones.
2. Intense Focus on Drones and Countermeasures
Drones were prominently featured at EDEX-2023 by various manufacturers due to their tactical advantages in operational theaters, which have increased over the years, especially after the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Key types include:
Suicide drones, particularly small ones that can be easily carried and controlled via electronic apps on phones or tablets, such as the American “Switchblade” by Aerovironment and similar models from other countries. Larger suicide drones similar to the Iranian “Shahed,” like the Chinese “ASN-301” by Avic, pose significant challenges to air defenses due to their low speed and intelligent design, which helps them evade and penetrate robust air defense networks. New types of suicide drones using team-based AI for target search and automatic engagement, such as the Armenian “AAS Devil-3,” have also emerged.
Large drones appeared in two design categories: “stealth” with low radar signatures, such as the Turkish “TAI Anka-3,” and conventional designs like the Egyptian “30 June” and the Turkish “Baykar Akinci.” These large drones can carry more weapons over long ranges, potentially reducing reliance on traditional fighter jets by performing missions effectively at lower costs. Some models specifically designed to carry long-range cruise missiles up to 250 km were also showcased.
Medium-sized drones received significant attention from manufacturers, focusing on transitioning from piston engines to jet engines, such as the Chinese “CAIG WL-10,” which resembles the American “Avenger.” There was also an emphasis on increasing payload capacity and enhancing defensive capabilities through the addition of ECM pods and self-defense systems with radar and thermal chaff.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), a new category of AI-enhanced drones from South Korea’s KAI, are designed to assist traditional fighter aircraft in various missions, including air-to-air, air-to-ground, and electronic warfare tasks. These drones can be controlled by pilots from fighter jets or even light training aircraft, indicating a future trend toward greater integration between new-generation fighters and supporting drones.
3. Focus on Specific Systems from Air, Land, and Sea
Naval Systems: EDEX-2023 saw intense competition among companies specializing in naval systems, particularly those producing surface vessels like corvettes, frigates, and helicopter carriers. Despite the notable absence of maritime suicide drones, the focus was on presenting alternatives to American surface products. European companies, notably French, German, and Turkish, as well as Chinese and Indian firms, were prominent. Naval munitions were also widely showcased, with a range of combat capabilities from various companies, particularly the European giant MBDA.
Land Systems: The emphasis was on armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles compared to main battle tanks and long-range artillery, with many countries producing these systems. There was notable attention to long-range surface-to-surface tactical missiles, especially South Korean “Hanwha Chunmoo,” Chinese “Norinco Ar-3,” and Turkish “TRG-230.” European and Asian anti-tank missiles also received considerable focus, while air defense systems, particularly European MBDA-Aster and Chinese CASIC HQ families, were highlighted, with a notable absence of Russian systems in this category.
Air Systems: There was fierce competition in the advanced fourth-generation fighter category. Lessons learned from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict led to revolutionary advancements in self-defense systems for aircraft, with enhanced capabilities from electronic support aircraft used to exploit weaknesses in complex defense networks. European systems from Hensoldt, Dassault, and Shaanxi supported a range of fighters such as the American “F-16 BLK70,” “F-15 EX,” and “Long Shot Project” combat drones, and the European “Rafale” F4 and “EF-2000” T4. Asian fighters, including China’s “J-10” C and South Korea’s “KF-21,” along with Turkey’s new fifth-generation “KAAN TAI,” were also featured. These fighters offer advanced designs, low radar signatures, and domestically developed systems, indicating a shift towards more innovative and effective air combat solutions. Additionally, lightweight tactical training aircraft such as the Korean “FA-50,” Turkish “Hurjet,” Chinese “L-15,” American “T-7,” Italian “M-346,” and Pakistani “JF-17” offer cost-effective solutions for diverse missions.
In conclusion, the third edition of EDEX showcased the latest advancements in armament technologies and combat systems, with a strong focus on offensive capabilities across air, land, and sea. The exhibition highlighted the growing importance of drones and countermeasures, along with various air and naval systems, reflecting the industry’s adaptation to evolving military needs. Companies are targeting the African market with cost-effective and versatile systems, suggesting that future editions of EDEX will attract even more innovative and lethal systems.
