Egypt to buy 2 Mistral warships from France

[Hell NO]

I say whoaa.. By Sisi taking over, being a leader with vast military background, his administration put higher emphasis on regional ambitions and if this is true as written (my French doesn't suck ) it will not be limited with regional ambitions. If I were to consider it confirmed with Russia's approval. Some pros and cons rise up that may even relate with Leven-class LHD project. As a matter of fact naval procurements can oftenly be familiarized with the Butterfly Effect.

For Egypt:

- Buying two -not one- large hull amphibious assault ships for a Navy like Egypt's means you need to procure a batch of frigates with significant AAW capabilities which eventually points out foreign funding. Otherwise I doubt their budget would survive that. As you have stated before Saudi financing is likely to be going on under the table.

- Egyptian Navy currently lacks the logistical infrastructure and capability to support two 20,000 tonnes weight beauties that will be a logistical nightmare if you include the flotilla that is supposed to escort it. But this is not something that is related with naval power. Egypt has short coastline that is easy to defend. But it controls one of the most critical passage lines in the World if not the most critical one. Having heavily land orientated military. Egyptian Navy has relevantly a very large mine warfare fleet due to nature of controlling the Suez Canal and other factors.

- There are also other requirements. As far as I know, Egyptian Navy does not have a marine Force, but your Army must have a unit specialized on amphibious warfare and yet we are talking about accommodation of neary 1,500-1,900 strong marines.

- The main question for the Egypt-relevant part of the matter is that for what reason they need it? My best guess is something similar to MLF proposal by United States to NATO is bound to happen..but by some sort of an Arabic force maybe.

- Interoperability with Egyptian naval system is completely another question. It doesn't matter whether it's suited back with French systems or not. It was built to support Russian components. So I think whoever buys it w

on't be able to use it with full effectiveness (100%)

Other than that, good acquisition from the Arab World or whoever actually is behind the procurement

"egypt has a short coastline"
are you sure

it is true we have no marines but we have the navy special forces their numbers can multiply over night

 

[Frogman]

"The egypt has a shortcoastline"
are you sure

it is true we have no marines but we have the navy special forces there numbers can multiply over night

Their numbers can only multiply over years or even a decade. Taking into account every recruit has to go through an eleven month selection program with an incredibly high drop out rate, then has to conduct post selection training. At the same time you have to replace those leaving the NSFB while adding personnel. Only a few dozen pass SEAL yearly and they will be recruited into multiple SF units across the Army and Navy so in the end you may only be adding a few guys every year.

Building up a large and credible marine force that doesn't require manpower or equipment from the Army may take just as long.

This will be a long term project.

 

[Hell NO]

Egyptain navy 2019
2 mistral

2 fremm frigates

6 gowind 2500 corvettes

6 ambassador class

4 type 209 submarines

1 Molnyia P-32 |

 

[Frogman]

Egyptain navy 2019
2 mistral

2 fremm frigates

6 gowind 2500 corvettes

4
ambassador class

4 type 206 submarines

1 Molnyia P-32 |

The P-32 Molnyia was a horrendous mistake.

 

[Malik Alashter]

Well the Egyptians now should work hard to protect them.

 

[Hell NO]

Their numbers can only multiply over years or even a decade. Taking into account every recruit has to go through an eleven month selection program with an incredibly high drop out rate, then has to conduct post selection training. At the same time you have to replace those leaving the NSFB while adding personnel. Only a few dozen pass SEAL yearly and they will be recruited into multiple SF units across the Army and Navy so in the end you may only be adding a few guys every year.

Building up a large and credible marine force that doesn't require manpower or equipment from the Army may take just as long.

This will be a long term project.

I know it's not gonna be easy but we do have time the Mistrals crews didn't even start training yet.
We used to have naval/navy sa'ka so we can train some normal sa'ka to become naval sa'ka.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

Brothers @Frogman @Hell NO @MICA @Mahmoud_EGY @Sinai Horus etc.

Do you know if the Russian-made equipment made for the Mistrals has been fully removed yet? I wonder if Russia helped finance a part of the cost in return for Egypt buying a number of Ka-52 helicopters? If that's the case I see no need to remove the initial Russian equipment from the Mistrals.

No doubt that the Egyptian Navy will play a bigger role in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea in the future and likely in close cooperation with the Saudi Arabian Navy which itself is in need of reinforcements on a number of fronts.

A potential role for the Mistrals in a future Joint Arab Army (once it materializes) also seems certain IMO.

 

[Hell NO]

The P-32 Molnyia was a horrendous mistake.

It's a free gift We had no choice but to accept.
Why do you think it was a mistake

 

[Neptune]

The EN is currently awaiting the construction of 4 Gowind Corvettes (1 in France and 3 in Egypt) and the procurement of one more FREMM. 2 more Gowind were agreed upon during the negotiations for the Mistral.

Hey..

Firstly by speaking of Gowing, we are talking about a 2,500 t vessel that is effective at green waters (littoral). It is by no means a suitable platform for amphibious fleet escort. By the roughest comparison; Have you ever seen a Freedom-class LCS escorting a San Antonio-class LPD at open waters?

AFAIK, Egyptian surface fleet still operates Knox class frigates and unmodernized Perries. This is likely where your FREMM acquisitions are planned to fill. As I said, this requires a complete new badge of procurement of frigates -if you don't want to turn these beauties into sitting ducks-.

So two fleets comprised of 1 FREMM, 3 Gowind, 1 Mistral, and 1 Type 209 may be possible with other types rotating into the fleets as required.

Mate its unrealistic. Firstly, formal of escort squadrons doesn't only depend on filling all the boxes -ASW,ASuW,AAW- with the platforms on hand. There are many other calculations. Unless you're the God of Logistics a.k.a US Navy, even this flotilla proposal you've listed can't serve.

Navy Special Forces Brigade is the ENs marine force which encompasses Commandos, Frogmen, and SF. However, it is quite small and I definitely see an expansion coming right for it.

Please, have we ever seen a USS Wasp filled with a thousand US Navy SEALs onboard serving as a MEU?

They are a maritime special operations force. Environment of a seaborne expeditionary force is completely different than that of a SF force. Besides, you'll decrease the quality of your Naval SOF. No way Egypt will do that.

Joint Arab Force is definitely touted although that is hitting some predictable stumbling blocks.

You have money, resources, manpower and US backing if you carry on being under their influence.
I see no obstacle to form such a force.

The EN has long operated legacy Soviet equipment as well as equipment from several sources. As a whole the Egyptian Armed Forces is quite accustomed to integrating equipment from different sources into one system.

It may take the EN near a decade in order to adequately man, maintain, and deploy these two as part of a fleet. But if it does succeed it will definitely be leap in capability for the EN.

It definitely will. But please: NO naval force that uses multiple oriented C4ISR and N4 is "accustomed" or "able to" integrate them into a single conjuncture.

 

[Frogman]

@Frogman

Do you know if the Russian-made equipment made for the Mistrals has been fully removed yet? I wonder if Russia helped finance a part of the cost in return for Egypt buying a number of Ka-52 helicopters? If that's the case I see no need to remove the initial Russian equipment from the Mistrals.

It's rather hard to tell. Some sources report that the equipment may be removed while others report that it will stay. Don't really know.

The Ka-52 (naval version) may be procured with soft loans according to some sources.

 

[Neptune]

"egypt has a short coastline"
are you sure

it is true we have no marines but we have the navy special forces their numbers can multiply over night

Shorter than Turkey's coastal defense operational theatre. And a big impossibly for the second statement

 

[Sinai Horus]

I thought we were negotiating for mistrals

No, The French are our buddies now

 

[Neptune]

Egyptian army is also largly funded by the US. I think the US also had a vested interest in getting rid of these cruise ships as long as they don't fall in the hands of the Russians or potential allies of Russia.

It makes sense but I don't think they're quite close to them nor the escalation with Russia bilaterally is that harsh. I suspect KSA funding.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

It makes sense but I don't think they're quite close to them nor the escalation with Russia bilaterally is that harsh. I suspect KSA funding.

It's likely that all 4 parties are somehow involved (Egypt, Russia, KSA and UAE). It would come as no surprise either as a stable neighboring Egypt has historical always meant a stable KSA. Looking towards the future I see nothing but increased Egyptian and Saudi Arabian cooperation.

It's rather hard to tell. Some sources report that the equipment may be removed while others report that it will stay. Don't really know.

The Ka-52 (naval version) may be procured with soft loans according to some sources.

Thanks bro. I tend to believe that the Russians have made such an deal. It would be typical of them.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

this big boys are ours now

View attachment 259574

Wow, congrats for getting these beasts.