FILE - VT Halter Marine's Pascagoula yard launched the first of four Egyptian navy fast missile craft Thursday.
Posted on 10/21/2011 5:09:39 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
VT Halter Marine launches first of 4 vessels for Egyptian navy
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- VT Halter Marine's Pascagoula yard launched the first of four Egyptian navy fast missile craft Thursday, marking a milestone in the ship's construction.
The four-vessel contract represents an $807 million deal for the local shipbuilder.
"It's clearly a great day," Halter Marine CEO Bill Skinner said. "This is the first of four, and it's been a great program for us, one that's provided hundreds of jobs."
Skinner said the first vessel is on track for a fourth-quarter delivery next year.
The fast missile craft is designed to perform coastal patrol, surveillance, interdiction, surface strike and naval battle group support.
These high-speed, agile craft can reach speeds of greater than 34 knots, provide berthing for a crew of up to 40 sailors and operate up to eight days independently at sea.
The Egyptian navy will use the vessels to patrol and defend its coastal waterways of the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and, in particular, the Suez Canal, according to the U.S. Navy.
"The launch of the FMC is the culmination of nearly two years of production rigor and dedication from all parties," said Frank McCarthey, the Navy's auxiliary, ships, boats and craft program manager. "The FMC program will continue to benefit from the high degree of design and planning maturity that has already been accomplished by the Navy/VT Halter team."
VT Halter Marine announced in December 2005 that it had a $29 million design contract for the vessel, and subsequent contract modifications raised the contract to $249.2 million.
In a second phase, awarded in September 2008, the contract for constructing the first three vessels raised the deal to about $642 million. The fourth ship, worth an additional $165 million, was contracted in March 2010.
The fourth vessel should be done by the end of 2013.
FILE - VT Halter Marine's Pascagoula yard launched the first of four Egyptian navy fast missile craft Thursday.
Appropriate that it appears to be flying a U.S. flag since we’re probably paying for them.
Oh goody:
I’m sure the “Muslim Brotherhood” will put them to good use...
They will be used against Israel.
I imagine some TLA has had a “look see” on these boats.
Makes you wonder if the builder may have included some “undocumented features” at government request.
Better to let the MB worry about things. :-^)
One in five they end up commissioned in the USN as the Mubarak class. I have a feeling the crappola in Egypt is going to get steadily worse and the Republicans will call for strongly reduced military ties and no more arms transfers.
It’s crazy to sell them defense stuff now. We might be looking at a regime just as kooky as Iran within the next year!
“They will be used against Israel.”
Hummm...! Maybe that’s the reason Israel is getting more subs...From US... maybe ?
Yes since their range is 8 days by tyhe time they got to US they’d have to surrender because they’d be out of provisions...Specs doesn’t cite the draft but these craft could play hell with Israeli costal defences or stop weapon smuggling going to the Copts.
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