Egypt’s first German Meko A-200 frigate arrived in Alexandria earlier this month after its delivery to the Egyptian Navy mid-October. The frigate is one of four, and it has been named “Al Aziz”.

“Al Aziz” was built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems at SBN shipyard, and is equipped to secure cargo ships and provide humanitarian support.

The contract was signed in 2018, and provides that that the fourth frigate would be built at Egypt’s Alexandria’s Shipyard. The second has been named already, as it would be called “Al Qadir”.

In a similar context, the second multi-purpose FREMM Bergamini frigate arrived at Alexandria Naval Base in April 2021 as part of a comprehensive strategy to upgrade the Egyptian Navy, local media reported.

The new Italian-class of the frigate has been named Berenice, an ancient seaport on the west coast of the Red Sea. The first frigate, Galala, arrived in December. The crews of the two frigates were trained in a program that was carried out in both Italy and Egypt. Egypt also has the French class of FREMM frigate, named Aquitaine, in the anti-submarine variant.

The frigate has several technical features and modern armament systems that enable it to achieve all combat missions during peace and war.

As such, it is a huge technical addition to the capabilities of the naval forces and a support to its ability in securing borders, shipping lines, natural resources in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and backing land forces along the coast while accomplishing attack and defense missions. (Photo © Egyptian Navy)