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OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH

Copyright © 2015 IQPC . All rights reserved. WWW.OPVMIDDLEEAST.COM OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH AFRICA 1 Produced by IQPC Middle East in association with Offshore Patrol Vessels Middle East taking place in 3 – 4 November 2015 in Cairo, . The respective countries of North Lethality and combat Africa face a maritime threat effectiveness: The latest OPVs offer landscape that is increasing in comprehensive versatility through the both severity and diversity. Its coast use of advanced targeting systems, guards and naval forces currently naval weapons and defensive face a more challenging role than countermeasures. ever before as they maintain the sanctity and safety of their national Improving overall surveillance and ports and coastlines. In order to vigilant presence across coasts: carry out their duties effectively, Providing a constant defence these maritime forces need to be against myriad threats and illegal trained and equipped to the requisite activities including terrorism, piracy, standard that will allow them to smuggling, polluting and illegal overcome the myriad threats that fishing. they are likely to encounter. Recent OPV Their governments understand the need to procure advanced Offshore Procurement Deals by Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that will Country provide their servicemen with the Illicit goods and means to carry out their assigned Egypt roles. As such, greater levels of OPV Egypt has one of the largest substances are purchasing deals are being signed in the Middle East but with 2000km crossing between by North African governments with of coastline to protect and an ageing North Africa and shipbuilding companies across the surface fleet that needs to carry out world in order to fulfil the following a more complicated and difficult Southern Europe objectives: role than ever before, the Egyptian through the porous Government has decided to secure a Countering asymmetrical series of significant deals to update coastal borders. approach to maritime terrorism: and/or replace OPVs in both the Interdiction efforts Well-armed, strategically capable and .1 terrorists and insurgents are require advanced operating with greater daring and One facet of this revised role is the OPVs with confidence along the shores of rising severity of the threat posed Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Algeria. by Daesh militants in the Sinai sophisticated sensory region. Most recently, in July 2015 equipment. Interdiction of vessels involved an Egyptian naval vessel was set on in smuggling and illegal fire after being targeted by rocket substance trafficking: Illicit attacks from the militants, although goods and substances are crossing no fatalities were reported.2 between North Africa and Southern Europe through the porous coastal Another consideration is the crucial borders. Interdiction efforts require strategic and economic importance advanced OPVs with sophisticated of the Canal. Although the sensory equipment. canal is currently undergoing a vast

Replacing/upgrading ageing 1 IHS Aerospace, Defence and Security, Jane’s vessels: Many North African naval Amphibious and Special Forces: , fleets are made up of ageing vessels 2014 2 Gulf News, Daesh claims responsibility for Egypt that are nearing obsolescence. naval attack, 16/07/2015

WWW.OPVMIDDLEEAST.COM OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH AFRICA 2 development project to widen it in 2014-2017: $1.35 billion – Four order to accommodate a greater Gowind at $1.3 billion: These vessels are number of vessels much more Also purchased from DCNS, these armed with an Oto rapidly, it remains a relatively narrow four Gowind corvettes have the choke point. This vulnerability, firepower and speed (max speed Melara 76/62 Super coupled with its ever-increasing 25 knots) to aid smaller coast guard Rapid Multi Feeding importance to Egypt’s economic craft in interdiction operations gun, two Reutech welfare, make it a prime target for against drug trafficking/smuggling terrorist actions. vessels as well as effectively 20 mm Super Rogue contributing in conventional naval turrets, eight MBDA Recent OPV Purchases warfare.4 2009-2014: $1.3 billion – Four MM 40 Block 3 Fast Missile Craft (FMC): These vessels are armed with an anti-ship Designed by VT Halter Marine Oto Melara 76/62 Super Rapid Multi in collaboration with Lockheed Feeding gun, two Reutech 20 mm missiles, 16 MBDA Martin, these advanced FMC were Super Rogue turrets, eight MBDA VL MICA missiles purchased in order to replace some MM 40 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship and four DCNS MU90 of the Egyptian Navy’s ageing missiles, 16 MBDA VL MICA missiles attack craft. Capable of mounting and four DCNS MU90 torpedoes. torpedoes. They surface-to-surface missile systems, They also have helicopter support also have helicopter guided missile launching systems features, further aiding their versatility (GMLS) close-in weapon systems and usefulness as multi-purpose support features, (CIWS) and deck mounted 7.62mm craft.5 further aiding their M60 machine guns, these versatile versatility and attack vessels are designed to Potential Future Purchases: The support larger OPVs and run vessel purchase of two further Gowind usefulness as multi- interdiction actions. corvettes from is currently purpose craft. being considered after the delivery 2014: Approx $200 million – of the FREMM in August. The FREMM Frigate: Purchased from bid has already been made and DCNS and built in Brest, France, the is currently under discussion with FREMM frigate designated Tahya DCNS. The recent visit of French Misr arrived in in early defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian August 2015, adding to the Egyptian to Cairo in late July suggests that Navy’s OPV strength with its multi- further OPV purchases from France purpose capabilities. are a distinct possibility.6 With its Herakles multifunction radar, surface-to-air missiles, MdCN cruise missiles, Exocet MM40 anti- 3 Defence Web, FREMM Frigate Tahya Misr departs for Egypt, 23/07/2015 ship missiles, MU90 torpedoes and 4 Defence Web, Egypt interested in more Corvettes, an Otobreda 76 mm gun, a FREMM 27/07/2015 5 frigate is capable of conducting Defence News, DCNS Exports Pegged to Egypt Frigate Order, 21/02/2015 anti-air, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare.3

WWW.OPVMIDDLEEAST.COM OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH AFRICA 3 Morocco versatile FREMM frigate appealed Much like Egypt, Morocco has to the Moroccan Navy are similar to a lengthy coastline to patrol and those that prompted the Egyptians protect against the myriad threats to to purchase one in 2014. With its national security and economy. its aft helicopter hangar able to Cannabis smuggling from Morocco accommodate medium helicopters to mainland Spain and elsewhere like the NH90, EH101 and Cougar, in southern Europe is of particular the frigate makes for an excellent interest to the Coast Guard as OPV that is capable of fulfilling This 50-metre support the size and diversity of illegal conventional naval warfare roles as 7 well as vessel interdiction.9 vessel, to be built consignments continues to rise. by French shipyard Additionally, key ports such as 2015: Price undisclosed – Casablanca, Tangier and Safi Landing Craft Tank (LCT): This Piriou, has been are playing an increasingly vital 50-metre support vessel, to be built designed to transport role in the future of Morocco’s by French shipyard Piriou, has been economy, calling for greater levels designed to transport vehicles, vehicles, cargo, of investment in OPVs to protect this cargo, water and fuel as it is fitted water and fuel as critical infrastructure from seaborne with two handling cranes and a bow it is fitted with two threats. ramp to allow for speedy loading/ unloading onto beaches, docks or handling cranes and Recent OPV Purchases other vessels.10 a bow ramp to allow 2008-2012: $816 million – Three SIGMA class : Ordered Potential Future Purchases: for speedy loading/ from Dutch company Damen The Moroccan Royal Navy has unloading onto Schelde Shipbuilding, these three undergone significant expansion in recent years with the purchases beaches, docks or vessels were delivered over the course of four and a half years, mentioned above. Naval other vessels significantly expanding the Royal procurement sources still suggest Moroccan Navy’s OPV capabilities. that there is a possibility of one or two submarines being added to Equipped with a comprehensive its strength, although this has not suite of electronic surveillance and resulted in any firm tenders being tracking systems, the SIGMA frigates produced in Morocco to date. It have already proved invaluable in seems more likely, given the scope vessel interdiction and humanitarian and scale of its anti-smuggling, drug- missions. These systems include: trafficking commitments, that more a Smart-S Mk2 surveillance radar, frigates, corvettes and smaller patrol a LIROD Mk 2 tracking radar, a craft will be needed by the coastal Thales Kingklip sonar system, kingdom in the coming years. an IFF system, an integrated

communication system comprising 6 Defence Web, Egypt interested in more Corvettes, external communication system and 27/07/2015 7 FOCON internal communication The Independent, Britons and Dutch battle for control of cannabis smuggling, 29/07/2015 subsystem, two target designation 8 Defence Web, Moroccan Navy receives third and sights, a VIGILE ESM system, a final SIGMA frigate, 11/09/2012 9 Second Line of Defence, Morocco Modernises its SCORPION ECM system and an Navy: the Latest FREMM Frigate prepares to join the integrated navigation system.8 Fleet, 12/07/2013 10 Morocco World News, Morocco to buy a landing 2013: $676 million – FREMM craft tank from France, 11/07/2015 frigate: Again, the reasons the

WWW.OPVMIDDLEEAST.COM OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH AFRICA 4 Algeria one Oto Melara 127/64 LW medium- Recent years have seen the Algerian calibre gun, provision for up to 32 At the time Algeria’s Navy expand significantly as its vertically launched Denel Dynamics surface fleet government aims to crack down Umkhonto-IR point defence missiles comprised of only on smuggling, illegal migration with space for up to 16 Saab/Diehl and indigenous terrorism. These BGT RBS 15 Mk 3 anti-ship missiles, three 1970s-era Koni- particular threats mostly affect two MSI-Defence 30 mm single class antisubmarine Algeria’s harbours and maritime guns, four Rheinmetall MASS soft-kill communication routes as well as decoy launchers, a Saab Sea Giraffe frigates, six corvettes, ships passing through the Straits of AMB G-band 3-D surveillance radar, 22 patrol and coastal Gibraltar. Consequently, the need and two Saab CEROS 200 radar/ combat vessels, three for an advanced, well equipped fleet electro-optical trackers.13 capable of effectively patrolling the amphibious vessels country’s 1000 km of coastline is Potential Future Purchases: Algeria’s and three logistics more pressing than ever before. long-term procurement plan for additional naval vessels focuses and support ships, heavily on an anti-piracy role as the making the two country’s main ports remain of vital Recent OPV Purchases economic importance, as does the advanced Tiger class 2012: Two Tiger class corvettes: sanctity of its coastline. vessels a welcome Another light and versatile - class vessel, the Tiger corvette Additionally, Algeria has already addition. is designed for anti-submarine, demonstrated that it is willing to anti-aircraft and anti-surface vessel purchase from a wide variety of combat and it particularly suited for shipyards (German, Russian, offshore patrolling duties.11 Pakistani etc) in order to equip the navy with its required craft. Given At the time Algeria’s surface fleet this context, further OPV purchasing comprised of only three 1970s-era deals seem almost inevitable, with Koni-class antisubmarine frigates, all manner of international vendors six corvettes, 22 patrol and coastal open to the opportunities available. combat vessels, three amphibious Currently, the Algerian Government vessels and three logistics and has the option to purchase two more support ships, making the two frigates from TKMS which industry advanced Tiger class vessels a analysts expect to be agreed within welcome addition.12 the next two years. 2012-2014: $2.7 billion – Two MEKO A-200 class 11 Sputnik News, Russia to build two Tiger corvettes frigates: ThyssenKrupp Marine for Algerian Navy, 20/06/2011 Systems (TKMS) provided the 12 Defence Web, Algeria purchases two tiger corvettes from Russia, 01/07/2011 Algerian Navy with the first of the two 13 IHS Jane’s 360, First Algerian MEKO A-200 frigate frigates in December 2014. These undocked, 11/12/2014 Algerian variants are equipped with

WWW.OPVMIDDLEEAST.COM OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH AFRICA 5 Advanced Vessels for The civil uprisings in Egypt and Algeria in recent years have an Expanding Role demonstrated that the region – while The North African countries it is currently stabilising – is no examined here (along with Tunisia, stranger to serious and prolonged Libya and Sudan) face many similar conflicts. Therefore, the procurement threats to their national security and of OPVs secures two ongoing to their economic wellbeing. Piracy sources of strategic benefit at once: and terrorist activities threaten the the heightened security of key port sanctity of their maritime trade and infrastructure and coastal areas, industry. Smuggling and illicit goods as well as the improved combat trafficking promotes corruption, capabilities of the national naval social disorder and the growth of forces in question. the shadow economy. The non-state Should the current geopolitical threats to North African countries landscape continue to feature represent a real and present danger the same type of threats, the that cannot be ignored. countermeasures offered by The growing maritime menace advanced OPVs will almost certainly being experienced in the region continue to rise in popularity in North has led to a significant expansion Africa. of the respective countries’ navies through the purchasing of OPVs. Not only are the frigates, corvettes and smaller attack and patrol craft capable of carrying out vessel interdiction missions to quell piracy and smuggling, they are also suited to supporting their surface fleets in conventional naval combat, should the need arise.

WWW.OPVMIDDLEEAST.COM OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH AFRICA 6 Sources: http://gulfnews.com/news/mena/egypt/daesh-claims-responsibility-for-egypt- naval-attack-1.1551641 http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content &view=article&id=40015:fremm-frigate-tahya-misr-departs-for- egypt&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106 https://www.ihs.com/pdf/IHS-Janes-Amphibious-and-Special-Forces- Egyptian-Navy_175592110913044232.pdf http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3163910/Terror-high-seas-Egyptian- navy-vessel-erupts-huge-fireball-ISIS-carry-rocket-strike-patrol-ship- Mediterranean.html http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/2015/02/21/france-egypt- frigate-fremm-dcns-rafale-export-corvette/23674673/ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article &id=40062:egypt-interested-in-more-corvettes&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/britons-and-dutch-battle-for- control-of-cannabis-smuggling-1248191.html http://www.sldinfo.com/morocco-modernizes-its-navy-the-latest-fremm- frigate-prepares-to-join-the-fleet/ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view =article&id=27637:moroccan-navy-receives-third-and-final-sigma- frigate&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106 http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2015/07/163060/morocco-to-buy-a- landing-craft-tank-from-france/ http://sputniknews.com/russia/20110630/164924783.html http://cimsec.org/rapid-growth-of-the-algerian-navy/15396

WWW.OPVMIDDLEEAST.COM OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS PROCUREMENT IN NORTH AFRICA 7 The respective governments of North Africa are looking to expand their cost guard and naval forces by securing advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that have the capability to fulfill a wide range of roles with precision and confidence. This is due to the increasingly complex and severe threat landscape emerging across the region’s coastal areas in the manifold forms of smuggling, piracy and asymmetrical maritime terrorism. Download this paper to gain further insight into the nature of these threats as well as the OPV purchasing trends currently being experienced in North Africa. Visit www.opvmiddleeast.com/ for more information.

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