Egyptian Alexandria Shipyard has started construction of the first of three Gowind 2500 corvettes to be built in Egypt.
First metal was cut on April 16 in the presence of high representatives of the Egyptian Navy and of DCNS technical assistance and management teams.
Under a contract signed with French DCNS, the Egyptian Navy has acquired four corvettes with an option for two more ships. The first vessel was to be built in France while the other three would be built in Egypt under a technology transfer program.
The contract, which entered into force in July 2015, provided for the construction of the first ship within 29 months. Construction of the first unit, which started in April 2015 , is now underway at DCNS’ Lorient shipyard.
Alexandria Shipyard is responsible for the construction of the remaining three vessels.
The Gowind 2500 corvette chosen by the Egyptian Navy is a 102 -meter ship with a displacement of 2,500 tonnes. The steel monohull ships incorporate the SETIS multi-mission combat management system already in use by the FREMM frigates.
The Malaysian Navy has also ordered six Gowind corvettes, which will be built locally, with technical assistance from DCNS provided by the Malaysian Boustead Naval Shipyard.