The modernisation programme was focused on mechanisation, building new military schools, enlisting more men, and reestablishing units.

The mechanisation process completely modernised the Cavalry Corps whose units (except the Royal Guards) replaced their horses with armoured vehicles.

The southern desert flank was covered by the ‘South Western Force’ of Egyptian light tanks (six Mk VIB), motorised units and No.

Supporting Infantry stormed the east bank of Suez Canal engaging Israel Defense Force personnel.

[citation needed] Egyptian Infantry seised a number of strongpoints along the Bar Lev Line in a series of battles.

When the coalition was formed, Egypt established a 35,000 strong corps-sized force made up of the 4th Armoured Division (Egypt), 3rd Mechanised Division, the 170th Airborne Brigade of the Egyptian Airborne Corps, the 20th Commando Regiment (brigade) and a number of engineers, air defence, and other support units.

The Egyptian force was unable to move up the first attack time after a request from overall commander U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf; halted after 'desultory' Iraqi artillery fire; continued to move so slowly that on the morning of the third day of the war, still had not taken their first day's objectives; and could not reorient themselves in order to take up an invitation to join a ceremonial joint Arab entry into Kuwait City until Schwarzkopf was able to get Hosni Mubarak to give a direct order to the Egyptian commander to do so.

[2] A number of modernisation programmes were put in place for Egypt's older Soviet main battle tanks from the 1990s.