April 19, 2016 / 12:04 PM

Egyptian shipyard cuts steel for navy corvette

Alexandria Shipyard in Egypt has cut steel on a French-designed Gowind 2500 corvette.

Egyptian navy officers and officials of DCNS and Alexandria Shipyard display steel cut for a naval corvette. Photo courtesy DCNS

Egyptian navy officers and officials of DCNS and Alexandria Shipyard display steel cut for a naval corvette. Photo courtesy DCNS

PARIS, April 19 (UPI) -- Alexandria Shipyard in Egypt has started construction of the first DCNS-designed Gowind 2500 corvette to be built in the country.

The cutting of steel took place late last week and was witnessed by officials of the Egyptian navy and technical assistance and management teams of DCNS, a French company.

Under a 2015 contract, DCNS is to provide the Egyptian navy with four Gowind 2500 corvettes. One is now under construction in France; three others are to be built in Egypt by Alexandria Shipyards under a technology transfer provision of the award.

DCNS has sent supervision and technical assistance teams to Alexandria for the construction of the three corvettes. It also provides training of Egyptian shipyard staff at DCNS' site in Lorient, France.

Gowind 2500 corvettes are 335 feet long, have a speed of 25 knots and a maximum range of 4,500 miles at a speed of 17 knots.

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