ThyssenKrupp has delivered the first of four MEKO A-200 frigates, the Al-Aziz, to the Egyptian Navy in Bremerhaven, Germany.
During the handover ceremony, Egyptian Navy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Ashraf Ibrahim Atwa also revealed that the second A-200 vessel will be named Al-Qadeer.
“I am grateful to the friendly Republic of Germany for the constructive relationship which sets the example to be followed by others,” Atwa said at the event.
“Germany always supports Egypt with the up-to-date technology needed to enhance our naval capabilities.”
“We have a longstanding and successful history of cooperation, as reflected in the highly efficient 209 submarines.”
ThyssenKrupp and Cairo signed the contract to build four MEKO A-200 frigates in 2018. The first Al-Aziz-class vessel was completed and launched in 2021.
“This record timeline was possible only because the Egyptian Navy and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems have such a long and trustful partnership,” ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems CEO Oliver Burkhard explained.
“The strategic programme is based on an open and collaborative dialogue with our customer and we are thankful for their tireless efforts in contributing to the success of this project.”
Following its delivery, the ENS Al-Aziz will sail to its home port in Alexandria.
Egyptian Navy’s Al-Aziz-Class Frigates
The MEKO A-200 frigate has a length of 121 meters (397 feet) and a 16.3-meter (53-foot) beam.
It is powered by two diesel engines and three turbines, has a displacement of 3,700 tons, and a maximum speed of 28 knots (525 kilometers/333 miles per hour).
It can carry two unmanned aerial vehicles and two helicopters.
The MEKO A-200 Al-Aziz-class vessels are armed with an Oto Melara 127/64 LW 127-millimeter main gun, Exocet anti-ship missiles, MSI-Defence 30-millimeter cannons, Rheinmetall Defence MASS softkill decoy launchers, and surface-to-air missiles.