Egypt plans to modernize four of its fast missile craft to combat maritime crime and protect its shipping lanes. The U.S. government has approved the deal, which is worth an estimated $625 million.
The U.S. said the Egyptian government requested new or system upgrades for combat management, air and surface surveillance radars, decoys, electro-optical/infrared sensors, electronic warfare, navigation data distribution, communications intelligence, and fire control radar. Egypt also asked for 76 mm gun upgrades.
Egypt’s $1.1 billion fast missile craft project began in 2005 when the U.S. agreed to help produce a new naval vessel. A company then called VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, received a contract to build four 63-meter Ambassador IV-class vessels for the Egyptian government.
The first vessel, ENS Soliman Ezzat, was transferred to the Egyptian Navy in 2013, and the second, ENS F Zerky, was handed over a month later. The remaining two ships, ENS M Fahmy and ENS A Gad, arrived in 2015.
Each vessel carries a 76 mm super rapid gun, eight Harpoon block II missiles, Mk 49 Rolling Airframe Missiles, Block 1B Close-In Weapon Systems and two M60 machine guns.
The fast missile craft have a top speed of 41 knots. A crew of 38 can operate at sea for up to eight days on board the craft. An aluminum superstructure reduces overall weight, maintenance and radar signature, and hulls are made of steel.
Egypt’s fast missile craft defend against armed surface and shipping threats in the coastal waterways of the Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal and Red Sea.