Article Posted on : - Jun 25, 2015

A DCNS image of an FREMM frigate.

LORIENT, FRANCE (BNS): French shipbuilder DCNS has handed over the FREMM multi-mission frigate "Tahya Misr" to Egypt on Tuesday (June 23).

The frigate was handed over in the presence of Egyptian Defence Minister General Sedki Sobhy and his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, along with the Chiefs of Navy Staff from both the countries.

"As part of the renewal of the surface-ship fleet of the country, DCNS has sealed strategic relations with Egypt. The sale of the FREMM Tahya Misr in February 2015 and the four Gowind corvettes in July 2014 bears witness to the confidence placed in the Group," the shipbuilder said in a statement.

DCNS has also been training the Egyptian crew since March this year to operate the vessel.

The contract, signed on Feb. 16, 2015, also includes support and through life support services for five years which will be carried out in Egypt by DCNS.

The latest delivery is the second international order for an FREMM frigate. DCNS has already delivered the frigate "Mohammed VI" to the Royal Moroccan Navy in January 2014.

The FREMM family of frigates with technically advanced features is designed to counter threats emanating from air, sea or land. With a displacement of 6,000 tons and a length of 142 m, the vessel can cruise at a top speed of 27 knots.

Each warship is capable of carrying state-of-the-art weapons and systems. The sensor suite of the frigate is designed around the Herakles multifunction radar with a range of more than 250 kilometres.

The French Navy is acquiring eight of the vessels, two of which - namely "Aquitaine" and "Provence" - have already been delivered.