Egypt has formally entered advanced discussions with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia regarding the potential acquisition of the F110-class frigate, a move signaling a significant step in the modernization of the Egyptian Navy’s surface fleet. The announcement was made by Tactical Report on January 6, 2026, highlighting ongoing strategic dialogues between Cairo and Madrid.
The discussions follow a procurement request submitted by Egypt in 2025, after extensive technical and feasibility studies conducted earlier that year. Unlike conventional acquisitions, Egypt has framed the initiative as a combined capability and industrial program, emphasizing local participation and technology transfer alongside fleet expansion. National institutions such as the Arab Organization for Industrialization and Alexandria Shipyard have been cited as potential partners, reflecting Cairo’s growing policy of linking major defense purchases to domestic industrial involvement—a strategy previously applied to programs such as the Barracuda-class submarines.
According to defense analysts, the talks remain exploratory. No contract has been signed, and final details on quantities or delivery timelines have yet to be confirmed. Discussions first surfaced in August 2025, when both parties outlined the scope of potential cooperation. Egypt is reportedly considering a limited number of F110 frigates, though specific figures remain undisclosed. Beyond the ships themselves, Cairo is seeking broader collaboration, including local construction participation, maintenance, and selective systems integration. Spanish officials have approached the negotiations carefully, balancing strategic interests with export approvals and political alignment, leading to a structured, measured negotiation process.
The F110-class, also referred to as the Bonifaz class, represents Spain’s latest guided-missile frigate design. Developed to replace the aging Santa María-class vessels, the program was approved in 2019 with a projected cost of €4.3 billion for five ships, averaging €860 million per unit. Construction is underway at Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard. The first vessel, F-111 Bonifaz, was launched on September 11, 2025, and is expected to enter Spanish Navy service in 2028, with subsequent ships following on an annual schedule. Three hulls are currently under construction, placing the platform in an active production phase as Egypt evaluates it for export.
The F110-class is a multi-mission escort vessel, designed with a strong emphasis on anti-submarine warfare while retaining robust air and surface combat capabilities. The ship displaces approximately 6,100 tonnes, measures 145 meters in length, with an 18-meter beam, and has a draft of roughly 5 meters. Its propulsion system follows a combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLOG) configuration, utilizing a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine and four MTU 4000 diesel engines driving controllable-pitch propellers, achieving speeds exceeding 35 knots (about 65 km/h). The vessel accommodates a crew of around 150 and can operate at sea for up to 240 days annually, with maintenance cycles extending to 18 months between major overhauls.
Combat systems on the F110 are centered on Navantia’s SCOMBA combat management system, integrated with the AN-SPY-7(V)2 radar and an International Aegis Fire Control Loop. This setup allows cooperative engagement with allied naval and land-based assets. Anti-submarine warfare capability is reinforced by a hull-mounted sonar and the Thales CAPTAS-4 towed array, supported by a shipborne helicopter—either the SH-60 Seahawk or NH-90—capable of ASW, surveillance, and surface strike coordination. Armaments include a 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system, primarily outfitted with RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 missiles, with provisions for SM-2 integration, alongside Naval Strike Missiles in two quad launchers, a 127 mm main gun, 30 mm secondary mounts, and lightweight torpedo launchers. For Egypt, the acquisition of F110 frigates would not only enhance its operational capability but also represent a multi-decade industrial and technological partnership.
The Egyptian Navy is widely recognized as one of the largest naval forces in the Middle East and Africa. Its fleet exceeds 150 vessels, spanning surface combatants, submarines, amphibious ships, patrol boats, and auxiliaries. By total hull numbers and displacement, it ranks as the largest navy in the Arab world and among the ten to fifteen largest globally. Egypt’s strategic position provides simultaneous access to the Mediterranean and Red Seas, with responsibility for the northern and southern approaches to the Suez Canal—a critical global shipping corridor—underscoring the navy’s importance in both national and international security.
Frigates are central to the Egyptian Navy’s surface combat capabilities, serving in escort, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine operations, and protection of high-value naval and commercial assets. The current frigate inventory includes 13 ships: three FREMM-class vessels (one French, two Italian), four German-built MEKO A-200EN frigates incorporating partial local industrial participation (with two more on order), and six former U.S. ships (four Oliver Hazard Perry-class and two Knox-class). These platforms routinely operate across the Mediterranean and Red Sea, performing sea-line protection, task group escort, and joint exercise missions, forming the backbone of Egypt’s surface warfare capacity.
Egypt’s engagement with Navantia over the F110-class frigate marks a continuation of its long-term strategy to modernize its fleet through advanced technology acquisition combined with local industrial development. Should negotiations progress to a formal agreement, the deal would reinforce Cairo’s blue-water ambitions while strengthening its naval-industrial base for decades to come.
