Egypt’s Gowind 2500 corvettes: the El Fateh class between Lorient and Alexandria
The Egyptian Navy has four Gowind 2500 corvettes designed by France’s Naval Group, known as the “El Fateh” class. The contract was signed in 2014, and the first ship, El Fateh (971), was built in Lorient, France, and delivered in September 2017. The other three, Port Said (976), El Moez (981) and Ismailia (986, formerly named Luxor), were built by Alexandria Shipyard under a technology transfer. Port Said was delivered in January 2021. The corvette displaces about 2,500–2,600 tonnes and carries 16 cells for VL MICA missiles, MM40 Block 3 Exocet missiles and a CAPTAS-2 sonar.
The four units: what is confirmed about the status of each?
| Pennant | Name | Built at | Launched | Delivery / announced status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 971 | El Fateh | Naval Group – Lorient, France | 17 September 2016 | Delivered on 22 September 2017 (Naval Group statement) |
| 976 | Port Said | Alexandria Shipyard | 7 September 2018 | Delivered in January 2021; the first Gowind built in Egypt |
| 981 | El Moez | Alexandria Shipyard | 12 May 2019 | Completed sea trials; Naval Group said it would be delivered “in the coming weeks”, but we found no published official delivery date |
| 986 | Ismailia, formerly Luxor | Alexandria Shipyard | 14 May 2020 | Began sea trials in July 2022; reports indicate it was renamed in 2022. No published official delivery date |
The difference between “launch” and “delivery” matters here. Launch means the hull is complete and leaves the dock, whereas delivery comes after the systems are fitted, sea trials are carried out and the navy accepts the ship.
The contract and technology transfer
- The contract (2014): four corvettes with an option for two more units, worth close to €1 billion according to French press reports. Exercise of the option for the two units has not been announced.
- Armament: MBDA negotiated a separate contract for MICA and Exocet missiles estimated at around €400 million, and Naval Group negotiated a torpedo contract; all these figures are attributed to press reports.
- Technology transfer: Naval Group says it transferred to Alexandria Shipyard the skills needed for shipbuilding, equipment integration and in-service support. Three of the four units were built in Alexandria.
Main specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Full-load displacement | 2,500–2,600 tonnes (depending on the source) |
| Length / beam | 102 m / 16 m |
| Draught | 5.4 m |
| Propulsion | Two MTU diesel engines with two electric motors, and two shafts |
| Speed | 25 knots (Seaforces); other sources cite 28 knots |
| Range | 3,700 nautical miles at 15 knots |
| Crew | 65, with room for 15 special forces personnel |
Armament and sensors
| Mission | System |
|---|---|
| Air defence | 16 vertical launch cells for MBDA VL MICA missiles |
| Anti-ship | 8 MBDA MM40 Exocet Block 3 missiles |
| Guns | Leonardo (OTO Melara) 76/62 mm gun, and two Nexter Narwhal 20 mm stations |
| Anti-submarine warfare | Two triple 324 mm launchers for MU90 torpedoes, and a Thales CAPTAS-2 variable-depth sonar |
| Radar and combat management | Thales SMART-S Mk2 3D radar, and Naval Group’s SETIS combat management system |
| Electronic warfare | VIGILE 200 and ALTESSE |
| Aviation | Deck and hangar for one helicopter |
SETIS is the corvette’s “brain”, which fuses radar and sonar data and assigns targets to weapons. We explained this concept in What is a combat management system (CMS)?.
CAPTAS-2 sonar: the corvette’s strong point
CAPTAS-2 is an active variable-depth sonar made by Thales. It is towed behind the ship and lowered to a depth chosen by the crew, beneath the water layers that reflect sound waves and hide submarines. This allows it to detect submarines at longer ranges than a hull-mounted bow sonar. This capability is complemented by MU90 torpedoes and a helicopter on board. For this reason, the Egyptian Gowind is considered an effective anti-submarine ship for its size.
Gowind or MEKO in the Egyptian Navy?
| Parameter | Gowind 2500 (El Fateh class) | MEKO A-200EN (Al-Aziz class) |
|---|---|---|
| Designer | Naval Group (France) | TKMS (Germany) |
| Contract year | 2014 | 2018 |
| Displacement | About 2,500–2,600 tonnes | About 3,700 tonnes |
| Vertical launch cells | 16 (VL MICA) | 32 (VL MICA NG) |
| Main gun | 76 mm | 127 mm |
| Helicopters | 1 | 2 |
| Units built in Egypt | 3 of 4 | 1 of 4 |
Why Gowind and not a larger frigate?
The Gowind 2500 sits between the missile boat and the frigate. It is smaller and cheaper than FREMM and MEKO frigates, but carries an integrated anti-submarine package thanks to the CAPTAS-2 sonar, as well as short- and medium-range air defence armament. This makes it suitable for patrol, sea-lane protection and convoy escort missions in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, while the larger frigates lead task groups and provide longer-range air defence. Reports indicate that in 2014 Egypt preferred the Gowind over the German MEKO A200 offer and the Dutch Sigma corvette, before later returning to contract MEKO frigates.
To compare the Gowind with its rivals in the region, see The best corvette for Arab navies: Avante 2200, Gowind 2500 or Al Zubarah? and F-110, Gowind or MEKO A200 for the Egyptian Navy. To learn about the manufacturer, see Naval Group.
Who operates the Gowind besides Egypt?
Naval Group has exported the Gowind family to other navies, including Malaysia, which is building the Maharaja Lela-class littoral combat ships based on the design, and Argentina, which operates patrol vessels of the Gowind OPV version. Egypt, however, remains the only Arab operator of the 2500 version, with four units.
Frequently asked questions
How many Gowind corvettes does Egypt have?
Four corvettes: El Fateh, Port Said, El Moez and Ismailia (formerly Luxor).
Where were Egypt’s Gowind corvettes built?
El Fateh was built in Lorient, France, and the other three at Alexandria Shipyard under a technology transfer from Naval Group.
What is the difference between the Gowind and Egypt’s FREMM frigate?
The Gowind is a corvette displacing about 2,500 tonnes and carrying 16 missile cells, whereas the FREMM is a larger frigate displacing about 6,000 tonnes or more, with broader armament and longer-range air defence.
Has delivery of the Gowind corvettes to Egypt been completed?
Delivery is officially confirmed for El Fateh (2017) and Port Said (2021). El Moez and Ismailia have completed stages of sea trials, but we found no published official delivery statement with a specific date.
Main image: the Egyptian Gowind 2500 corvette El Fateh (971) during an exercise with a NATO maritime group in the Mediterranean, August 2022. Source: Petty Officer 3rd Class Ezekiel Duran / US Navy via Wikimedia Commons – public domain.
