FEPS organized a symposium on the role of the Air Force in the October War (challenges and heroics)
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In the month of October, the month of victory, pride and dignity, on Tuesday, 24 October, the Faculty of Economics and Political Science organized a symposium entitled “The Role of the Air Force in the October War (Challenges and Heroics)”. Under the patronage of the University President, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Etman Al-Khosht, and the Acting Dean of the College, Prof. Dr. Hanan Muhammad Ali.

The official speaker of the seminar was Major General Pilot. A.H. Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi, advisor to the Military Academy for Postgraduate and Strategic Studies, and commentator on the symposium, Dr. Rami Magdy, a teacher in the Department of Political Science at our distinguished college.

The symposium was opened with a speech by Dr. Rami Magdy, who was introduced the Major General Tayyar. A.H. Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi, and then Dr. Hisham spoke about the October victory in 1973, and about the extent of the many challenges and difficulties that faced the Egyptian army forces, especially the air force.

At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi asked a very important question: What can students of the Faculty of Economics and Political Science benefit from this seminar, especially as it relates to the October War and the challenges faced by the Air Force? That is, what can be gained from the 1973 October War? Therefore, we will learn the answer to this question through what was discussed in the seminar.

Dr. Hisham began by presenting many of the grave challenges that faced the Egyptian Air Force after the defeat in the 1967 war, he explained to us the general appearance of the Air Force after 1967, and the extent of anger over the occupation of Sinai land by the Israel. Therefore, talking about the Egyptian planes that were struck by Israel, the planes which were destroyed on the ground and needed what is called a demolition. Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi emphasized the weakness of aerial aircraft while they are on the ground, and that once they are in the sky, they are a powerful weapon.

The Egyptians were in a state of challenges, such as the forces emerging defeated from the 1967 war, a shortage of air defenses to protect aircraft on the ground, destroyed air bases and airports, and a severe shortage of pilots and crews. He explained the Air Force’s insistence on rebuilding the Air Force again, which resulted in many challenges, including the attempt of the Army and Air Forces to work in a scientific manner, while under pressure in time. This means that the forces worked to compress time and work in short periods, which Dr. Hisham indicated that a long period is not beneficial. He has indicated and advised several times about searching for the scientific method to solve any problem under time pressure.

He also pointed out the difficult circumstances that the Egyptian army witnessed. Including political, economic, and military circumstances. Political circumstances, as Egypt was defeated before the world, the lack of military support for Egypt. Economic circumstances in terms of the high cost of aircraft and equipment, and military circumstances, because that there was a war of attrition between the two wars: which are the war of 1967 and 1973. In addition to the enemy's strength and ability to reach depth.

Moreover, we find the third advice from Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi, which is not to be discouraged by the challenges and difficult circumstances that derail us. He pointed out that the Egyptian Air Force is not broken (the un-breakability). The evidence of the un-breakability is their training on first and second-generation aircraft - despite the enemy’s use of third generation aircraft - and working to reduce the crisis in the number of aircraft, the challenge of establishing new airports at the bases and corridors.

He pointed out that the Air Force was using MiG-17, MiG-21, and Sukhos-7 aircraft (of the first and second generation), while Israel uses the Phantom, Skyhawk, and MiG-3, and these aircraft have sensors, unlike Egyptian aircraft. However, despite all this, the Major General pointed out the success of the Egyptian Air Force in using first and second generation aircraft in a scientific, competent, and intelligent manner.

He pointed out that all elements of the comparison were in favor of Israel, which was confirmed by the West, as the Soviet Union confirmed that Egypt would lose all its air forces and would not destroy more than 30 to 35% of their targets, and the losses would be from 40 to 45%.

Nevertheless, Egypt achieved 95% of the goals against only 5% of the losses. This is due to the research and scientific method used with the pressure on time, their lack of sanctity for the West, and their lack of belief in their opinions.

Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi highlighted the largest air battle, the Battle of Mansoura, which lasted 53 minutes. The general claimed that people are the basis of the success equation, not capabilities. He stressed that the lack of capabilities is not an obstacle to success, but rather an incentive for creativity and achieving what we dream.

During the symposium, Dr. Hisham emphasized to us that the fighter is the basis for dealing with military power, and we enjoyed listening to a small part of Sadat and Sisi’s speech to emphasize the valor of the Egyptian fighting army. In Sadat’s speech, he concluded, saying: “The Egyptian army has become a shield and a sword.” and in return, Sisi concluded, saying: “The Egyptian army is capable of doing it every time.”

At the end of Major General Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi’s speech, he gave us a fourth piece of advice, saying: “True power begins with knowledge.” The fighter must have complete real knowledge and professionalism in the practical method while not sanctifying the West, and belief that the fighter is the equation for success.

Then, A.H. Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi and Dr. Rami Magdy provide an opportunity for student lecturers to ask questions. There was an interaction and questions, the most important of which were:
1. “Ukraine is fighting Russia without air cover” could this affect-it?

Major General Staff Pilot answered this question, saying that Ukraine is currently paying the price by attacking it. He stressed the necessity of military science and mastering the scientific method.

2. Is it normal for there to be hitting errors?, as today some members of the Egyptian border surveillance with Gaza suffered minor injuries after one of the observation towers was accidentally hit by fragments of a shell from an Israeli tank.

The doctor responded to this question, saying that it is normal to have a mistake in striking during any war. This is because of the random attack carried out by Israel, and there are many procedures, investigations and monitoring into the matter as well, to ensure that this attack was indeed wrong.

3. Why did we not postpone the October War to fully prepare for it? Instead of it being in 1973, it could be in 1975, for example.

Dr. Hisham responded to this question by saying that it is not in Egypt’s interest to wait, due to Egypt’s defeat in 1967, as well as the United States’ support for Israel. In addition to the Egyptians' fear of forming and building settlements in Sinai, which will lead to many problems. It is in Egypt's interest to make the decision to go to war, as quickly as possible.

Dr. Rami continued, saying that we are in a very sensitive period, politically and militarily, and we must verify our sources and the articles that we read. The individual must be fully aware of the sources, articles, and opinions he receives.

The enriching seminar concluded with two questions from Dr. Rami:

1.      How were we able to deal with Israeli air defense systems?

Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi responded by saying that the Egyptian Air Force has defeated many of the enemy’s powerful weapons, namely Israel’s professional air defense and electronic warfare. This is through the professional training of the Egyptian Air Forces. In addition to the lack of sanctity of Western media newspapers.

2.      What about the spirit of Arab national solidarity in the wake of the October War?

He concluded that the Arab world stands in solidarity with Egypt, and the evidence of this is the oil war, where the Arab countries cut off oil and oil from enemy countries. He added that it was the most wonderful solidarity.

In conclusion, Dr. Hisham Al-Halabi provided many recommendations and advice during the symposium, and these tips are the answer to what students of the College of Economics and Political Science can benefit from this seminar:

-  Scientific research and scientific method.

- Pressure of time.

- Not broken.

- Not sanctifying the West (they also make mistakes).

- Lack of capabilities is not an obstacle to success.