France Proposing Four More Vessels (2 Corvettes 1 OPV & 1 Patrol Vessel) to the Egyptian Navy

Navy Recognition ^ | 24 December 2015

[sukhoi-30mki]

According to well connected French financial newspaper La Tribune, France is proposing four more vessels to the Egyptian Navy: Two more Gowind class corvettes, one OPV and another patrol vessel.

The Egyptian Navy future GOWIND class corvette. They will be fitted with 8x Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles, 16x VL MICA surface to air missiles (both by MBDA), Torpedoes, a 76mm main gun (Oto Melara) and 2x 20mm remote weapon stations. Image: DCNS

If the proposal is accepted, the Egyptian Navy would have 11 french-built vessels in its fleet.

Over the last year DCNS has established strategic relations with Egypt in the frame of the modernisation of the country’s surface fleet. France and DCNS sold a FREMM multi-mission frigate in February 2015 and four Gowind 2500 corvettes in July 2014. More recently, it was announced that DCNS would deliver the two fromer Russia bound Mistral class LHDs to Egypt.

The two extra corvettes being propose would joint the existing four on order. According to DCNS, the Gowind 2500 is a reference product on the worldwide corvette market. This vessel responds to the needs of navies to have access to a complete and multi-mission combat vessel for sovereignty and maritime protection operations and the fight against illicit trafficking. Ten corvettes have already been ordered: Malaysia (6 units) and Egypt (4 units).

[Little Ray]

So, just how are the Egyptians going to pay for these ships and subs? It isn’t like they have oil revenue running out their ears.

[bigbob]

They should get the Z06 model

[PAR35]

Looks like it would be a good replacement for the US LCS/Frigates. 50 feet shorter than a Freedom class, slower, but with a better range; shorter endurance, slightly larger crew, but much more heavily armed.