Satellite images reveal a ballistic missile base in Egypt

The Egyptian Scud base shows that the short-range ballistic missile appears to still be in service regardless of its age.

While Egypt’s ballistic missile strength remains secret, recent satellite imagery has shown that the short-range R-300 Elbrus (RS-SS-1C Scud B) is still operational despite its age. Analysis of commercial satellite imagery from April 2023 shows a Scud missile base on the outskirts of Cairo.

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The facility is located just 12 kilometers southeast of downtown Cairo, and includes a variety of car garages, residential units, and administrative buildings, in addition to four high-rise buildings that are a feature of Scud operations. Numerous satellite images show Scuds mounted on trailers and what appear to be MAZ-543 vehicles (TELs) parked in the open.

Whether the missiles seen are the 300km-range Scud B or the longer-range Scud C is not clear from the available images. The Scud C with 500 km in range – which Egypt reportedly bought from North Korea in 1996 – is externally similar to the Scud B.

High levels of vehicular activity, including equipment related to Scuds, have been observed in recent years, including the past few months. Furthermore, the northern part of the base was widened in late 2014 and saw the construction of a slightly larger additional bridge in 2016. While the height of the new building from 19 to 20 meters (a rough estimate based on shade measurements) would in theory be sufficient to accommodate The larger North Korean Nodong missile that Cairo has reportedly expressed interest in in the past, no signatures regarding missile types other than Scuds can be observed at the base.

The designation of the base indicates Egypt’s continued use of Scud missiles, and as recently as 2016 has been investing in further development of the facility. However, Egypt’s plans regarding its stockpile of ballistic missiles are not known. Scuds are outdated at best and their capabilities and characteristics as a liquid fueled weapon are easily overpowered by the variety of other solid fueled missiles available on the global market. It remains to be seen whether Egypt will replace its aging Scuds with more modern ones – or has already acquired such systems, and intends to operate them alongside its aging weapons.

Similar questions surround the research, development and production sites associated with Egypt’s past efforts to establish an indigenous missile industry. Both the liquid fuel engine test stands at Jabal Hamzah and the solid fuel engine production site at Abu Zaabal have undergone modifications and expansions over the past few years. It is not clear what these developments are intended for.