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New missile ships bound for Egypt leave Pensacola
Rob Johnson, Staff Writer11:54 p.m. CDT May 25, 2014
Two new fast missile craft destined for the Egyptian Navy were loaded onto a civilian transport ship Sunday on Pensacola Bay.
Although Pensacola Naval Air Station officials declined to comment, a News Journal photographer took photos of one of the Ambassador III class vessels being prepared for transport.
According to an article last year in Defense News, Egypt has purchased four of the fast missile craft made by VT Halter Marine's shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The military specialty publication reported that the stealthy, 700-ton ships are armed with Harpoon missiles, among other weapons.
Defense News quoted a Pentagon spokesman, Navy Cmdr. Bill Speaks, as saying that the missile craft's Egyptian officers have been training at Pensacola Naval Air Station since July 2013. A Navy base spokesman in Pensacola couldn't be reached on Sunday. But training the military of American allies has been an accepted practice at NAS for years.
The civilian transport ship that will ferry the Egyptian missile craft that has been docked at the Port of Pensacola for several days. The Egyptian vessels were docked at the base, but media photos of them there weren't permitted.
Defense News reported that the ships are designed to defend the Suez Canal region. The publication added that delivery of the ships "was questionable" after the Egyptian military overthrew the country's elected government of President Mohamed Morsy in July 2013. A State Department review of all U.S. military aid programs to Egypt was held, and some programs have been suspended, including the transfer of F-16 jet fighters and AH-64 Apache helicopters.
But Defense News said the some programs are allowed to continue, particularly those that help Egypt fight terrorism and uphold peace treaty obligations with Israel.
New missile ships bound for Egypt leave Pensacola
Rob Johnson, Staff Writer11:54 p.m. CDT May 25, 2014
Two new fast missile craft destined for the Egyptian Navy were loaded onto a civilian transport ship Sunday on Pensacola Bay.
Although Pensacola Naval Air Station officials declined to comment, a News Journal photographer took photos of one of the Ambassador III class vessels being prepared for transport.
According to an article last year in Defense News, Egypt has purchased four of the fast missile craft made by VT Halter Marine's shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The military specialty publication reported that the stealthy, 700-ton ships are armed with Harpoon missiles, among other weapons.
Defense News quoted a Pentagon spokesman, Navy Cmdr. Bill Speaks, as saying that the missile craft's Egyptian officers have been training at Pensacola Naval Air Station since July 2013. A Navy base spokesman in Pensacola couldn't be reached on Sunday. But training the military of American allies has been an accepted practice at NAS for years.
The civilian transport ship that will ferry the Egyptian missile craft that has been docked at the Port of Pensacola for several days. The Egyptian vessels were docked at the base, but media photos of them there weren't permitted.
Defense News reported that the ships are designed to defend the Suez Canal region. The publication added that delivery of the ships "was questionable" after the Egyptian military overthrew the country's elected government of President Mohamed Morsy in July 2013. A State Department review of all U.S. military aid programs to Egypt was held, and some programs have been suspended, including the transfer of F-16 jet fighters and AH-64 Apache helicopters.
But Defense News said the some programs are allowed to continue, particularly those that help Egypt fight terrorism and uphold peace treaty obligations with Israel.
New missile ships bound for Egypt leave Pensacola
