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USA Delivered the Last Two Ambassador MK III Fast Missile Craft (Ezzat Class) to Egyptian Navy

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Naval Forces News - Egypt
 
 
 
USA Delivered the Last Two Ambassador MK III Fast Missile Craft (Ezzat Class) to Egyptian Navy
 
On June 17, the United States delivered the last two (of four) Fast Missile Craft naval vessels to the port of Alexandria in support of Egypt’s security and the Egyptian people. The two Fast Missile Craft, built by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, arrived in Alexandria on board a U.S. transport ship, and will be integrated into the Egyptian Naval fleet in the coming weeks. This delivery effectively doubles Egypt’s total fleet of Ambassador MK III (Ezzat class) Fast Missile Craft from two to four.
     
On June 17, the United States delivered the last two (of four) Fast Missile Craft naval vessels to the port of Alexandria in support of Egypt’s security and the Egyptian people. The two Fast Missile Craft, built by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, arrived in Alexandria on board a U.S. transport ship, and will be integrated into the Egyptian Naval fleet in the coming weeks. This delivery effectively doubles Egypt’s total fleet of Ambassador MK III (Ezzat class) Fast Missile Craft from two to four. Ambassador MK III (Ezzat class) Fast Missile Craft of the Egyptian Navy
     
U.S. Embassy Senior Defense Official in Cairo Major General Charles Hooper, noted, “The Fast Missile Craft directly supports maritime and regional security, which includes protecting vital waterways such as the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. This delivery is a sign of America’s ongoing commitment to Egypt and to our shared security interests in Egypt and the region.”

Representing a $1.1 Billion investment by the United States in the bilateral strategic partnership, the four naval vessels will contribute significantly toward ensuring regional security, countering terrorism, and protecting global commerce. The Fast Missile Craft is designed to counter Egypt’s current maritime surface threats and provide freedom of navigation. They will also help protect civilian and commercial vessels entering Egypt’s territorial waters through coastal patrol surveillance and maritime searches.
     
On June 17, the United States delivered the last two (of four) Fast Missile Craft naval vessels to the port of Alexandria in support of Egypt’s security and the Egyptian people. The two Fast Missile Craft, built by VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi, arrived in Alexandria on board a U.S. transport ship, and will be integrated into the Egyptian Naval fleet in the coming weeks. This delivery effectively doubles Egypt’s total fleet of Ambassador MK III (Ezzat class) Fast Missile Craft from two to four.
The last two vessels Fahmy and Gad on the transport ship on their way to Egypt. Picture: US Embassy in Egypt.
     
The Fast Missile Craft project began in 2005, when plans were initiated by the U.S. Department of Defense to help produce a naval vessel especially for the Government of Egypt. Having received training on the Fast Missile Craft in Pensacola, Florida, Egyptian Navy personnel are now conducting all required inspections and will activate the vessels in Alexandria shortly. Culminating 10 years of close coordination between the Egyptian and American Navies, the Fast Missile Craft is first in its class and provides both high speed and high maneuverability.

The stealthy, 550-ton Ezzat class vessels are 207 feet long. They are armed with eight Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles and an OTO Melara 76mm main gun, with self-defense provided by a Rolling Airframe Missile launcher and a Phalanx CIWS Block 1B. The four ships of the class (Ezzat, Zekry, Fahmy and Gad) are powered by three MTU diesels and designed for a top speed of 41 knots. They may operate at sea for up to eight days

In addition to these two Fast Missile Craft, the Egyptian Navy also took delivery of a FREMM Frigate from DCNS in France on June 23rd, as we reported.