On June 17, the United States delivered two Fast Missile naval vessels to Egypt at the port of Alexandria. These vessels, built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, were transported on a U.S. ship and will soon join the Egyptian Naval fleet. This addition doubles Egypt's Fast Missile Craft fleet from two to four.
Major General Charles Hooper, Senior Defense Official at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, stated, “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.”
The project represents a $1.1 billion investment by the United States in its strategic partnership with Egypt. The four vessels are expected to enhance regional security efforts, counter terrorism, and safeguard global commerce. Designed to address current maritime threats faced by Egypt, these crafts will ensure freedom of navigation while protecting civilian and commercial ships through coastal patrols and maritime searches.
Initiated in 2005 by the U.S. Department of Defense specifically for Egypt's needs, this project involved training Egyptian Navy personnel in Pensacola, Florida. The personnel are now conducting inspections before activating the vessels in Alexandria soon. This effort marks ten years of cooperation between Egyptian and American navies.