Egypt’s Alexandria shipyard has launched the future ENS Luxor (986), the country’s fourth and final Gowind corvette built under a transfer of technology agreement with French shipbuilder Naval Group.
The launching of Luxor coincided with the arrival of S43, Egypt’s third Type 209/1400 submarine that was handed over in April and arrived home earlier this month.
The 102-meter corvettes carry 16 vertical launch system (VLS) cells for Mica surface to air missiles, Exocet anti-ship missile launchers, a 76 mm main gun, and torpedo launchers.
While being the fourth unit in the class, Luxor is the third ship to be built in Egypt. Only the lead ship, ENS El Fateh, was built in France and delivered to Egypt in 2017. Ships two to four were all built in Egypt.
The Gowind program marks the first time Egypt has built a warship domestically. The program is also part of a broader strategic partnership between France and Egypt, which saw France deliver a FREMM frigate and two landing helicopter docks to Egypt over the past few years.
Naval Group has also established a subsidiary in Alexandria that will be responsible for managing the maintenance of French-designed and built warships in Egyptian Navy service.
