TKMS hands over third MEKO frigate for Egypt

Third-in-class Al-Qadeer (F 909) was handed over by TKMS to the Egyptian Navy on 15 December. (Michael Nitz, Naval Press Service, 2023)

German shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) handed over the third Al Aziz (MEKO A-200EN)-class frigate on order for the Egyptian Navy during a ceremony held in Bremerhaven, Germany on 15 December.

The vessel, named Al-Qadeer (F 909), is the third of four MEKO A-200 frigates ordered by Egypt from TKMS in 2018, and the final ship in the series to be built in Germany. Manufacturing activities for Al Qadeer started in 2020, and the ship was laid down in March 2021 and launched in April 2022. Following its delivery, the ship is expected to depart for Alexandria, Egypt,in the coming days.

Al-Qadeer's delivery follows the launch of fourth-in-class Al Jabbar (910) at Alexandria Shipyard on 4 December. The launch was announced at the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) 2023 in Cairo the same day. Al Jabbar was laid down at Alexandria Shipyard in March 2022 as the first ship in the class to be built locally. Under current planning it is expected to be delivered in October 2025.

The first of the series, ENS Al-Aziz, was commissioned into service in October 2022, followed by the second frigate, ENS Al-Qahhar, in June 2023.

The ships have a full load displacement of around 3,700 tonnes, a length of 121 m, a top speed of 29 kt, a standard range of 7,700 n miles at 15 kt, and can carry a crew complement of 110.