The first of six MEKO A-200 multirole frigate for the Egyptian Navy ENS Al-Aziz has begun sea trials in Germany.
ENS Al-Aziz was built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Blohm+Voss and HDW in a deal worth EUR2 billion (USD2.3 billion) for four A-200s, one of which will be built in Egypt.
The vessel is the Egyptian version called the MEKO A200EN is considered the most lethal of the MEKO frigate series. It will displace 3700 to 4000 tons with a length of 121 meters.
Egypt in September 2018, ordered four A-200 frigates for a total of EUR two (2) billion Euros. At first, the frigate deal was signed, with an order for just two MEKO A-200 frigates for a total of 1 billion Euros, it was later increased to four ships.
Budestag’s Budget Committee gave its approval for an export credit guarantee for the six vessels, in 2019, the export credit provides guarantees of up to 2.3 billion euros (US$2.5 billion) for the transaction.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government approved the delivery of three Meko frigates and 16 air defence systems from Diehl Defence before leaving the office late last year.
ENS Al-Aziz is armed with eight MM40 Block 3 Exocet and 32 VL MICA NG missiles plus a Vulcano 127mm main gun and four 20mm cannon, as well as MU90 lightweight and DM-2A4 (SeaHake Mod 4) heavyweight torpedoes.
Thales supplied its Scorpion 2 EW jamming system and NS-110 4D AESA radar.
The first three units are being built by TKMS in Germany with the rest constructed at Alexandria Shipyards in Egypt.
TKMS is also reportedly in talks with the Egyptian government to co-produce the MEKO A-300 frigate with a shipyard in the North African country.