Ambassador-class

Summary

Description

The Ambassador MK III, also known as the Ezzat class, is a class of small fast missile craft constructed by VT Halter Marine for the Egyptian Navy. The Egyptian government initially planned for four ships with a total budget of US$1.290 billion. The first ship, the S. Ezzat, was delivered in November 2013, with the remainder scheduled for delivery in 2013-14. This vessel was a variant of an existing Ambassador design used by the Egyptian Coast Guard, modified for stealth with a reduced radar cross-section and upgraded with the assistance of Lockheed Martin.

The need for this class of missile boats arose from the Egyptian Navy's historical use of fast missile boats, starting with Soviet Komar- and Osa-class missile boats in the 1960s, which were successful in combat. However, the last acquisitions of this kind were made in 1982, and by the late 1990s, the Egyptian Navy needed modern replacements.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) first notified the sale of three fast missile craft to Egypt in 2004 under a Foreign Military Sales program for US$565 million. A contract was in limbo due to technical issues until 2005, when VT Halter Marine was granted US$28.8 million to develop a functional design, which was completed in 2006. The budget was later revised to US$1.050 billion for three ships, and construction began in 2009. An additional craft was later added for an extra US$240 million. Egypt also discussed the potential procurement of two more units to begin around 2014.

The operational history of the Ambassador MK III class began with the naming of the initial four vessels: S. Ezzat, F. Zekry, M. Fahmy, and A. Gad. These ships were named in a ceremony in October 2011, and S. Ezzat was launched the same month. The last two vessels, M. Fahmy and A. Gad, were delivered by the United States in June 2015. Crew training took place starting in 2013, as the officers received instruction in Pensacola and crew training continued from July 2014.

The vessels in the Ezzat class have participated in numerous naval exercises with various countries including France, Russia, and Greece. Additionally, they have been active in the Yemen Civil War, with the class contributing to the Saudi-led coalition. Specifically, they supported operations against Houthi insurgents by securing regional waters and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Operating predominantly within the Egyptian Navy, the Ambassador MK III fast missile craft are modern assets designed to bolster Egypt's maritime security, particularly along its strategic coastlines and vital maritime routes such as the Suez Canal.

Technical specifications