ENS Tahya Misr

FREMM class multi-purpose frigates in the Egytian Navy

Tahya Misr underway on 10 March 2016

History
Egypt
Name|

* Tahya Misr
* (تحيا مصر)

Namesake|

* Tahya Misr
* (Long live Egypt)

Ordered| 16 February 2015
Builder| DCNS, Lorient
Laid down| 8 October 2008
Launched| 18 October 2012
Commissioned| 17 March 2016
Renamed| From Normandie
Homeport| Alexandria
Identification|

* MMSI number: 622121039
* Callsign: SSMQ
* Hull number: FFG 1001

Status| Active
General characteristics
Class and type| Aquitaine-class frigate
Displacement| 6,000 tons
Length| 466 ft (142.0 m)
Beam| 65 ft (19.8 m)
Draught| 16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion|

* MTU Series 4000 (2,2 MW everyone)
* CODLOG

Speed| 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); max cruise speed 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range| 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement| 145
Sensors and
processing systems| Héraklès multi-purpose passive electronically scanned array radar
Armament|

* 16-cell MBDA SYLVER A43 VLS for 16 MBDA Aster 15 missiles
* 1 × Leonardo OTO Melara 76 mm SR gun
* 3 × Nexter 20 mm Narwhal remote weapon systems
* 8 × MBDA MM40 Exocet block 3 anti-ship missiles
* 2 x double Leonardo (WASS) B-515 launcher for MU 90 torpedoes

Aircraft carried| 1 × NH90 helicopter
Aviation facilities| Single hangar

ENS Tahya Misr (FFG 1001) is a FREMM multipurpose frigate of the Egyptian Navy. Tahya Misr was originally constructed as the Aquitaine-class Normandie before being acquired by Egypt and being renamed.[1]

## Development and design

[edit]

Three original variants of the FREMM were proposed; an anti-submarine variant (ASW) and a general-purpose variant (GP) and a land-attack variant (AVT) to replace the existing classes of frigates within the French and Italian navies. A total of 27 FREMM were to be constructed - 17 for France and 10 for Italy - with additional aims to seek exports, however budget cuts and changing requirements has seen this number drop significantly for France, while the order for Italy remained unchanged. The land-attack variant (AVT) was subsequently cancelled.

On 16 February 2015, the Egyptian Navy ordered one FREMM vessel to enter service before the opening of the New Suez Canal, as part of a larger deal (including 24 Rafales and a supply of missiles) worth US$5.9 billion (€5.2 billion).[2][3] The SYLVER A70 VLS and NETTUNO-4100 jamming equipment were removed due to export limitations for such sensitive equipment.[4] The crew will be around 126 sailors compared to 108 in the French Navy.[5] The SATCOM antenna for the French Syracuse satellites was also taken down; however, Egypt will use its own military telecommunications satellite, supplied by Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space, in conjunction with its naval vessels.[6] From March 2015, DCNS trained the Egyptian crew in the technology of the ship and DCNS and its partners accompanied the crew for a period of 15 months.

## Construction and career

[edit]

In order to keep to Egypt's deadlines, France offered to send Normandie, originally intended for the French Navy.[7] On 23 June 2015, French naval shipbuilder DCNS transferred the FREMM frigate Tahya Misr ( ex-Normandie) to the Egyptian Navy. A ceremony took place to transfer Normandie, renamed Tahya Misr ("Long Live Egypt") to Egypt, in the presence of General Sedki Sobhy, the Egyptian Minister of Defense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister of Defense, Admiral Osama Rabie, Egyptian Navy Commander in Chief, Admiral Bernard Rogel, the French Chief of Navy and Hervé Guillou, Chairman & CEO of DCNS.[5][8][9] The frigate sailed for the first time under the Egyptian flag on 24 June 2015, and as the flagship of the fleet on 6 August, it participated in the inauguration of the new Suez Canal.

In August 2018, Tahya Misr carried out a joint exercise with the similar Italian frigate Carlo Margottini, returning home after having participated in Operation Atalanta in the Indian Ocean.

## Gallery

[edit]

* Tahya Misr before her transfer as Normandie at Lorient on 2 July 2015.

* Tahya Misr before her transfer as Normandie at Lorient on 2 July 2015.

* Tahya Misr before her transfer as Normandie at Lorient on 2 July 2015.

* Tahya Misr before her transfer as Normandie at Lorient on 2 July 2015.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Aquitaine class FREMM Frigate French Navy Marine Nationale". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
2. ^ Lert, Frédéric (16 February 2015). "Egypt officially signs for 24 Rafales, FREMM frigate, and missiles". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
3. ^ "Official French Navy Statement on the Sale of a FREMM Multi-Mission Frigate to Egypt". 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
4. ^ "DCNS Transfered [sic] the FREMM Frigate Tahya Misr to the Egyptian Navy". Navy Recognition. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
5. ^ a b "DCNS Transferred the FREMM Frigate Tahya Misr to the Egyptian Navy". 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
6. ^ "Un satellite Airbus-Thalès vendu à l'Egypte". 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
7. ^ "FREMM pour l'Egypte: Ça se précise..." 17 December 2014. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
8. ^ "DCNS Transfers the FREMM Tahya Misr to the Egyptian Navy". 24 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
9. ^ "Egypt receives its first FREMM frigate". Janes.com. 25 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.

* v
* t
* e

Aquitaine-class frigates

French Navy|

* Aquitaine
* Normandie
* Provence
* Languedoc
* Auvergne
* Alsace
* Bretagne
* Lorraine

Egyptian Navy|

* Tahya Misr (ex-Normandie)

Royal Moroccan Navy|

* Mohammed VI

* Preceded by: Horizon class
* Followed by: None

* List of frigates of the French Navy

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