NAVY PROFILE

MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUE NAVIES,

Fig. 1: The Royal Moroccan Navy's "Tarik Ben Ziyad" class patrol vessel "Allal Ben Abdellah" (6 15) has been designed according to OSNS' revolutionary SIGMA approach that applies modularity in many areas. (Photo: Courtesy of Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding)

The seven naval fleets belonging to the and large expeditionary ships of European and are expected to be in service by 20 IS. The AI· Mediterranean Dialogue nations, Chinese origin are replacing the fleet's current gerian F22A variant is 123m in length with a Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, core force of Soviet·era designs. New naval fli ght deck and hangar for the operation of one helicopters will add additional reach and effec· medium·sized helicopter. Six Z·9 HAITUN Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia, are tiveness to the ANN, making this North African maritime helicopters (based on the Eurocopter in the process of modernisation. The nation one of the region's naval leaders. AS365 DAUPHrN) were included in the order. rejuvenation of some of the fleets The centerpiece of ANN modernisation is two Increasing focus on di saster rel ief, humani· means that a number of obsolescent MEK01>A200 corvettes ordered from tarian assistance, and other expeditionary oper­ warship classes of predominantly T hyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) in at ions continues to drive demand for large multi· Soviet/Russian and Chinese origin wi ll March 2012 at US$2.86Bn. Algeria may exer· purpose amphibious ships on the world market. be replaced by more modern units, cise the option to acquire an additional two The ANN is addressing this requirement with a notably frigates, patrol vessels, support M EKO corvettes as the first pair enter service. recent award to Fincantieri for a modified The MEKO order has also driven the buy of six version of the ITS "San Giusto" LPD (see ships, and submarines (see jigllre 1). AgustaWestland SUPER LYNX 300 heli­ figure 2). Now under construction, the LPD­ copters. Three new·build 2,800 tons F22A type vessel wi ll replace one Soviet-era frigates will also be joining the ANN based on "PoJllocny" class medium-landing ship (LSM). ALGERIAN NAVY an o rder placed in 20 12. The F22A design is Industry sources indicate the ANN may acquire EXPANDS, LOOKS EAST AND derived from the Chinese "Jiangwe i II" class a second LPD of the same design. Acquisit ion WEST FOR SUPPLIERS (Type 053H3). The first F22A is under cost for the LPD is estimated at more than The Algeria n National Navy (ANN) is in the construction at China Shipbuilding Industry US$200M per hull. midst ora significant expansion in both quality Corporation (CSIC). The acquisition cost for the The ANN is also bolstering its maritime secu­ and quantity. With the new platfonnsjoining the ships and filted systems is approximately rity with a planned OPY programme. In 20 12, fl eet in the next fi ve years, the ANN wi ll have a US$300M per hull. All three of the new ships the ANN released an intemational Request for blue water capability. New frigates, corvettes, Information (Rfl) for the latest DPY designs.

Bob Nugent Josh Cohen is Vice President of Advisory Services for AMI is an Advisory Services Consultant with AMllnterna­ International, a naval market research and analysis firm. tional. A specialist in open source, competitive, and Bob spent 22 years as an intelligence officer in the US primary research and analysis , Josh has over 20 Navy and also served as Deputy Naval Attache in experience years advising clients and served in the US Moscow. Marine Corps.

70 NAVAL FORCES lV1201J NAVY PROFILE

, / Fig. 2: One 8,000 tons LPD-type vessel is on order from Fincantieri. capabilities and stated (Graphic: Courtesy of Fincantieri) illtentionscould pose a dan ger to marit ime commerce and so are a primary foc us for Egyptian Navy planning. Egypt also remain s Vendors chosen ...... 111"'" concerned about Israel's submarine and from those answering .. surface ship capabilities. As the third of three the Rfl are expected branches ofthe Egyptian Anned Forces (EAF), the Navy receive a Request for Pro­ hi stori ca lly received comparati vely small budget shares and posal (Rfp) sometime in 20 14. limited procurement funding. However, in the 1990s, the Mubarak The construction award for the gove l11l11ent sought to reverse this with significant investment to expand future ANN DPV could be and modernise the fl eet. Foll owing the 20 11 change in government, announced as early as late 20 14. Egypt reduced the amount of GOP foc used on defence spending. Current The scope will be at least six hull s, with acquisition cost per hull to range naval procurement programmes remain on course so far, with no between US$75-100M. substantial delays or cance ll ations yet noted. Egypt, as other nat ions in the The ANN is also investing to gain more operational service from its Eastern Mediterranean, also is increasing investment in maritime security current inventory of Soviet/Russian ships, notably corvettes and in light of the accelerating development of offshore natural gas fi elds in submarines. The Service Li fe Extension Progranune (SLEP) for these ships the region. will add at least 10 years to the originaJ30 year service life. For corvettes, In August 201 2, the Egyptian Navy ordered two Type 209 diesel sub­ thi s wi ll keep them serviceable lIlltil replaced by the new A200 and F22A marines from TKMS. As the fl eet has four existing ex-Chinese ROMEO fi'igates overthe next decade. ANN ships in the SLEP inc lude three "Murat type submarines that need 10 be rep laced, the naval service lllay order Iwo Rei s" class (Project 11 59 KONI-IJ type) frigates procured in the early additional Type 209 subm arines following the delivery of the first pair in 1980s. The ships are receiving new 3D radar suites, fire control radars, 201 9. Total acquisition cost for each of the two submarines is estimated updated torpedo tubes, and electronics. The first unit, "Reis Korso" (903), completed modernisation in Russia between 1997 and 2000. The second unit is now nearing completion, and the final hull, "Murat Reis" (90 I), began SLEP work in 20 II . The upgrades are expected to add 10 years to the 30 years old platfonns...... y~ 5A D Special Craft Algeria maintains one of the on ly operati onal submarine capabilities fj\ ___' __~ _____BU _i1d_, D_e_Sig_n_an_d _Le __ase among North African Nav ies. The Sov iet KILO-I (Projekt 877-EM) sub­ marine "EI Hadj Moubara k" (0 13), completed modernisation in 2008. Plans are in place fora similar upgrade to her sister boat HEI Hadj Slimane" (0 12), the fl eet's second diesel-e lectric submarine. If executed, the sub­ marine moderni sation programme will likely be at Sevelllaya Shipyard in Sa int Petersburg over a three-year period, similar to her sister boat UE I Hadj Moubarak". A key ANN vulnerabi lity remains its lack ofa viable mine countennea­ sures (MCM) force. In March 20 12, infonllation was received thai the ANN was pl anning for a new class of up to four mine countermeasures vessels with Operational Requirements Documents (ORO) in development. A single support ship is avai lable with a limited mine-laying capability. As for the rest of the ANN, only three of an original nine OSA-II type FAC are assessed as marginally operational.

EGYPTIAN NAVY - WILL NEW GOVERNMENT STAY THE NAVAL COURSE?

Egypt is still in the midst of the political transition following the changes MSAR designs, builds & leases multi-mission craft of 14 to 42 in government in 201 2 and in July 20 13. Consequently, much ofthe security meters for deployments out of the operational range of other focus in the country rema ins internal - militant Islamic fund amentalism vessels in severe or rough weather condilions. Built as semi-custom allowing for the installation of specific and their support from outside actors such as Iran and the Sudan. Whether eqUipment & hardware for a wider variety of applications from the new government (Adly Mansour, Head ofthe Supreme Constitutional SAR ops to Bord er Patrol. Court of Egypt, succeeded President Mohamed Morsi on 4 July 201 3) will sustain past momentum to modernise and expand the Egyptian Navy Contact MSAR today on +44 845 869 69 63 or [email protected] todiscussyourorganisation·s uniqu e remains to be seen. With over 100 ships and patrol cra ft , and 16,000 naval requirements. personnel, the Egypti an Navy still ranks as the largest African Navy. The Egyptian Navy continues to view safe nav igation via the Suez www.msar.eu Canal and Red Sea as a primary miss ion obligation. Iran's current nava l

NAVA L FORCES IV1201J 71 NAVY PROFILE

I at US$500M. Iftwo additiona.1 boats arc ordered, In 2011 , Egypt purchased six ex-Royal Nor­ teaming continue. Acco rding to industry the total cost of the four-unit programme could wegian Navy "Hauk" class FAC, along with a sources, Jorda n may acquire up to 16 AMP-13? exceed US$2 Bn. suppot1 ship, for US$37 3 M. Th is acqui siti on is unit s by 2020 (see figul'e 3). This fo rce struc­ Four 62 m long "Ezzat" clqss (A mbassador seen as an effort to replace ageing Soviet-era ture would be sufficient 10 replace the entire III ) miss ile FAC ordered by th E;: prev ious gov­ OSA-I and Chinese-built FAC, a trend antici­ ex isting fl eet of obsolescent patrols. ernment through a US Foreign ~ ilit a ry Sal es pated to accelerate as the Egypti an Navy's bud­ The RJN F also includes Spec ia l Operations­ progra mme have been deli vered on schedule. get graduall y improves. capablc units. The 77th Marine Reconnaissance The shi ps are bu ilt by the US yard VT Halter Battalion is made up of two surveillance COI11 - Marine with the final hu ll of the four, "A. Gad" panics and has trained with Marines of the US (658), scheduled to commi ssion next year. Each ROYAL JORDANIAN Sixth Fleet Landing Force on occasion. A Navy of the four boats (with an estimated acqui sition NAVAL FORCE - di ver secti on and special boat un it equipped with cost of about US$325M) is anned with one Oto NEW MULTI-PURPOSE CRAFT RHIB and light craft rollnd Ollt their capabilities. Melara 76mmJ62 Super Rapid Gun and two ON THE HORIZON? Operating with inlemalional forces, the RJNF dcck-Illounted 7. 62111111 M60 mac hine guns. The Royal Jordanian Naval Force (RJNF) has developed a robust maritime interdi ction They are al so arm ed with a Raytheon is small , with a fleet of age ing patrol vessels and capacity well suited to its size, assets, and mi s­ PH ALANX Mkl5 Bloc k 18 CIWS. Surface­ about 700 personnel. The service is kept busy, sion. The service's depl oyabl e boarding teams lo-surface miss il e armament includes eight patro ll ing the mainly land locked CO lllltty'S sole have been made ava ilable to the Commander, Boei ug RGM -84G HARJ' OON Bl ock IG auti­ coastal outlet, a 16nm stretch of shoreline along Combi ned Task Force 15 1, providing counter­ ship mi ss il es in two quad pac k canister the Gulf of Aqaba. The Royal Jordanian Naval piracy ass istance when performing vessel launchers. One Rayth eon Mk49 launcher (2 1 Force conducts all operati ons from its main base inspections. cells) for the Rolling Airframe Missile (RA M) at Aqaba. The fl eet consists of three "AI provides point air defence. Hussein" class patrol boats built by then Vosper The fiv e 265 tons di splacement Type 148 Thornyc roft. The craft are the largest in the MAURITANIAN NAVY - FAC received from Ge rman Navy surplus in RJNF inve l1tOlY and anned with twin Oerlikon A FUTURE PATROL BOAT 2002/03 represent pOlent surface combatants, 30111111 and single 20111111 gUllS. Four "F.aysal " MARKET carrying four EXOCET MM38 anti-ship class (BERTRAM type) coastal patrol craft in With the lowest GDP on the continent, years mi ss iles and one Oto Melara 76ml11 nava l gun. se rvice since 1974, two "AI Hashim" cl ass of political tllnnoil, and 111 0st recently, conflict Three of the vessels were built or completed by coastal patrols, and eight small er "Abdu lah" with Islami c Jihadist fi ght ers from Mali and Fr. Ui rssen Shipyard in Germany. class patrol craft make up the remainder of the Al geri a, the Mauritanian Navy has been a In 2010, Egypt ordered MRTP20 fast inter­ fl eet. Although well maintained, these boats are large ly overlooked. Yet, the small service has ceptor craft from the Turkish yard Yonca-Onuk. years past their service li ves and due for r e pl ace~ been making strides to advance competencies The init ia l order was for 6 hull s. These patrol men!. in EEZ patrol tactics, whi le training to boa rding boats satisfy a requi rement to ensure the security Plans to augment and eventually repl ace the and inspect lmidentified vessels continues with of the Suez Canal, Egyplian harbours, and RlNF'sageing fl eet began in 2009. Licensed co­ partner nations. The Mauritanian Navy consists coastal waters. The craft are expected to support production offollr AMP-1 37 Advanced Mult i­ of approximately 400 nava l personnel and 200 anti-terrori st operations. At an estimated cost of Mission Platfonns was pl anned by a team made Marines. NOlladhibou is home to the fl eet's only US$4.5M per hull , the design emphasises stealth lip of US shipbuilder Ri ve rHawk Worldwide, operati onal base . The fl eet consists of vessels features to reduce the craft 's radar and IR sig­ LLC and the King Abdullah II Des ign and purchased and donated inc luding licence-bui lt natures. Development Burea u. Negotiations on thi s fast attack craft of Fr. Liirssen design. The largest, "Uman EI Hadrami" (P 60 1), was gifted by China in 2002 (see figure 4). This boat remains operati onal, recentl y taking part in the SA HARA N EX PRESS 201 3 exercise, a regional exercise held off the coast of Maurita­ nia in May 20 13. The 660 tons di spl acement patrol vessel "Arguin", built by Fr. Fassmer Werft in Germany, is used in the fi shery protection role. The design has a Zodiac launch ramp amidships. In 2008, thi s ship sailed to Spain, indicating a level of operational readi ness. Built in France for the Mauritanian Navy in 1994, the Leroux et Lotz OPV 54 type patrol ship "Aboubekr Ben Amer" (541 ) was fla gship of the fl eet until 2008 when the "Liman EI J-I adrami" was appointed

Fig . 3: The AMP- 137 will be similar in design to a new class of 43m long fast patrol boats built by RiverHawk for the Lebanese Navy. (Photo: Courtesy of RiverHawk Worldwide. LLC)

72 NAVAL FORCES 1v/20B NAVY PROFILE

/

Fig . 4: The Mauritanian Navy's fast attack craft ~ Uman EI Hadram i~ (P 601) received from China in 2002 is 80m long and displaces some 430 tons. (Photo: Courtesy of Mauritanian Navy) the title. In 200 1, the ship returned to France for SIGMA patrol vessels (one SIGMA 105 13 and Countering smuggling and human traffi cking re fi t. While unverified at time of press, it is pre­ two SIGMA 98 13) from Damen Schelde Naval arc additional tasks performed in co llaboration sumed the the vessel remains serviceable. Shipbuilding (DSNS) wi ll enab le the fl eet to with the Tunis ian Na ti onal Guard Coast Guard One RA IDCO 20m Patrol Craft, with stern strengthens its capabiliti es. (TNGCG). The Tuni sian Navy and TNGCG RHI B launch deck, is also in operational service. [Ed.: The modern isa tio n of the Roya l operate an antiquated mi x of32 FAC and patrol The nava l service has a number ofRHIB used Moroccan Navy's surface fl eet progressed with vessels. Ships were procured in the 19805, by the Marines for boarding and inspection. One the pu rchase of three SIGMA design patrol ves­ primarily from German, French, Spani sh, perhaps two, of an ori ginal fo ur, "Mandovi" se ls (see lIgf';ll fig ure J) from OSNS in 2008 Chinese, and US sources. Three " La Galitc" class patrol craft may also be deployable. and one FREMM fri gate constmcted by DCNS. class(COMBA TTANTE III type) mi ssile FAC A major task of the Mau ri tanian Navy is The latter will be named "Mohammed VI" and and six " Hamilcar" class (ex-German Type guarding the country's EEZ, part icularly du ri ng homepol1ed in Ksar es Seghir. The ship will be 143 8 ) missil e FAC represent the fl eet's most September, when cephalopod fi shing is banned. deli vered in 20 13. Morocco's US$676M con­ signifi cant assets. The latter were received from Due to the lack of patrol assets, illega l activity tract fo r the fri gate was fin ali sed with DCNS in Germany during 2005, represe nting nearl y 400 has increased. The Navy is now called upon to April 2008 and construction began at Lorient in tons di splacement boats equi pped with four provide patrol coverage for offshore petroleum December 2008. The FREMM fr igate has been EXOCET MM38 anti-ship mi ss il es an d two fac ilities. Monitoring refugee tra ffi c is also a designed for several roles, including AA W, 0 10 Melara 76mm naval guns. The 10 boats of growing concern . With so few assets, the AS nW, and AAW. It feat ures THALES ' this type empl oyed by the Ge rman Navy fo r Mauri tani an Navy ca nnot effectively moni tor HERAKLES multifuncti on radar, MBDA's more than 25 years we re built by Fr. Liirssen even a small fraction of the country's coast. ASTER anti-air missiles and EXOCET MM40 Shipyard. Given the fl eet's age, general condition and ever anti-ship missiles, EuroTorp's MU90 torpedoes, In April 2011, Tuni sia signed a joint increas ing requirements, a new multi-purpose and Oto Melara's 76Jlllll gun . On 8 September US$ II OM deal with the Itali an shipya rd patrol cra ft of durable design coul d eventually 20 12, DSNS deli vered the last SIGMA design Cant iere Navale Vittoria to receive 10 P350 class be acquired. patrol vessel "Allal Ben Abdell ah" (6 15) to the NavylNational Guard patro l boats. Four hull s Royal Moroccan Navy. THALES delivered the have been commissioned; the remain ing six will MOROCCAN NAVY - TACTI COS CMS, the SMART-S Mk2 sur­ enter service at two per yea r until 201 6. The REJUVENATION OF THE ve ill ance radar, the Ll ROD Mk2 fi re control P350 design is 35m in length , displ ac ing 140 FLEET PROGRESSES radar, target designat ion sights, the UMS 4132 Ions. Two MTU 16V2000 M93 diesel engines The Kingdom of Morocco's Navy is relatively KING KLIP hull -Illounted sonar, the TUUM-4 (2,400hp each) drive two Ro ll s-Royce Ka mewa small , composed of7,800 naval personnel and underwater telephone, the VIGILE laos inte­ 63S3NP waterj ets for a top speed of 38 knots. 1,500 Marines, yet it is a capabl e regional force. grated ESM and ECM suite, SCORPION 2L, an A month after Ihe P350 deal was struck, the In recent years, the fl eet has been committed to integrated nav igation system (INS), the Mk2 1 Itali an Navy donated fo ur patro l vessels to expandi ng its inventory of 65 surface com­ bathythellllograph, and the integrated COllllllU­ Tu nisia. It is beli eved Ihal these vessels are the batants, patrol vessels, and craft , in large part to nications system.] "Cassiopeia" class patrol vessels built in the mid- enhance patrols in the Strait ofG ibraltar passage 1980s and commi ssioned in the late I 980s and and EEZ. The Royal Morocca n Navy, how­ TUNISIAN NAVY- earl y 1990s. However. these patrol vessels are ever, lacks submari nes, domestic naval industry NEW PATROL BOATS SLOW quick ly becoming antiquated, yet the Tunisian systems, and mine countenneasures. The naval FLEET OBSOLESCENCE Navy can be expected to keep them in service service is expected to maintain older, yet se r­ The Tunisian Navy's prim ary mi ss ion is as long as poss ible. viceable hull s to the fullest ex tent. The acqui si­ de fence of territorial integrity by protecting the Throughout its hi story as an independent tion of a FREMM friga te from DCNS and three nation's 7 13nm ( 1,148 klll) long coastlin e. nat ion, Tu nisia has maintained one ofthe lowest

74 NAVAL FORCES IV120 13 NAVY PROFILE

defen ce budgets among al\ MENA countries. in 2013 fund s to begi n rebui ld ing the Armed in Apri1 20 13. As pm1 of the deal, Libyan na val Due to the Arab Spring movement, resulting Forces with new equipment. Taking note of the personnel were trained on ship operations and political and internal sec urity issues, and COIl­ opportunities in Libyan naval rebui lding, maintenan ce at the manufacturer's facility in tinuing lack of political or economic leadership defence companies have in creased their visi­ France. The RPB-20 has a deep-V hull , enabling interest, it remains unlikely the Tunisian Navy bility in Libya. Local defence exhibitions such a maximum speed of28 knots. The craft can also wi ll be funded for any major n~\v equipment pro­ as the inaugural Libyan Technologies Militmy launch and recover small er boats. Simi larl y, gralllcs in the neat" future . It is believed that the Science Ex hibition in Tripol i in January 20 13 Libya took deli very of two Damen Stan Patrol fl eet receives approximately 25 percent or tile drew 65 internat ional companies promoting 2606 patrols in 20 13. As wilh the purchase from overall armed forces defence expenditures. In all manner of defence equipment, including Sillinger, the Damen purchase included training 20 13, thi s should amount to be approximately patrol boats. In March 20 13, a number of UK of Libyan sailors in na vigati on, communica­ USS I27M. With an extremely limited indi ge­ defence compan ies exhibited aboard HMS tions, surve ill ance, and gu nnery in the Nether­ nOliS shipbuilding capability, the Tunisian Navy "Kent" whil e the ship conducted a two-day port lands. Other recent nava l acqu isitions included can be expected to continue relying on forei gn visit to Tripoli . 25 patrol craft ordered from an unidentified suppliers for future requirements. As of May 20 13, the Libyan Navy took builder in South Korea, thoughllo be Daewoo. deli very or 30 (or a total or 50) new RHIB Not all hull s of the former Libyan fleet purchased from the French manufacturer were destroyed in the civil conflict. Open LlBYA - Sillinger in January 20 13. The order included sources report one KONI-II (Projekt I J 59 TR) REBUILDING THE FLEET the hi gh-tech 1200 RIB UM Inboard. Designed fri gate, one NANUCHKA II (Projekt 1234 E) After being virtually destroyed by NA TO for the high seas, the craft can transport up to 25 corvette, and one NATY A- I minesweeper forces during the 20 II multi-national interven­ persons. The craft can be armed and armoured. remain in operational conditi on. As Ihe Libyan tion, the Libyan Navy is well on the way to Libya is the second customer for thi s new mod­ Navy rebuilds, it is expected that Soviet-era hulls reconstituting th e core of a naval service. el. These new arrivals were showcased for the will be replaced with mUlti-purpose designs According to local press reporting, the Libyan public in Tripoli on 25 May 2013. Two intended for extended patrolling and related governm ent budgeted 6 billion dinars ($4.78n) RAIDCO RPB-20 were also deli vered to Libya mi ss ions. I NAFOI

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NAVAL FORCES [V120 13 75