Egypt opens talks with Spain on F110-class frigate acquisition.

The Egyptian formally opened discussions with Spain over the possible acquisition of the F110-class frigate as part of its surface fleet modernization efforts.

On January 6, 2026, Tactical Report announced that Egypt formally entered discussions with Spain regarding a potential acquisition of the F110-class frigate. The talks follow a procurement request submitted in 2025 after technical and feasibility studies and are framed around capability development and industrial participation. No contract, quantity, or delivery schedule has been confirmed to date.
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Construction of the F110 frigates is taking place at Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard; the first ship, the F-111 Bonifaz, was launched on September 11, 2025, and will be followed by one ship per year through the early 2030s. (Picture source: Navantia)

More precisely, Egypt formally entered a new phase of discussions with the Spanish company Navantia about the potential acquisition of the F110-class frigate, marking a significant step in Cairo’s ongoing surface fleet modernization. The Egyptian Navy submitted a procurement request earlier in 2025, after completing technical and feasibility studies conducted between February and April of that year, framing the initiative as a combined capability and industrial program rather than a straightforward ship purchase. From the outset, the request linked the possible acquisition to industrial participation and transfer of technology (ToT), with explicit reference to the involvement of national entities such as the Arab Organization for Industrialization and Alexandria Shipyard. This structure reflects Egypt’s broader defense-industrial policy, which increasingly ties major acquisitions (such as Barracuda submarines) to local production, integration, and long-term sustainment objectives.

As of January 2026, the talks between the Egyptian Navy and Navantia remain ongoing and exploratory, with no public confirmation of contract signature, final quantities, or delivery timelines. Earlier exchanges during August 2025 had already outlined the scope of these discussions, describing them as serious but preliminary, with Egypt considering a finite group of F110 frigates without disclosing an exact number. Beyond hulls and combat systems, Cairo has sought an expanded cooperation framework that could encompass construction participation, maintenance activities, and selected systems integration work inside Egypt. Spanish counterparts have treated the request as strategically relevant while subject to export approvals and political alignment, which explains why the process has progressed through structured negotiation rather than rapid announcement.

The F110-class frigate, also known as the Bonifaz class, is Spain’s newest guided-missile frigate developed to replace the Santa María-class ships in Spanish Navy service. Five vessels are planned for Spain, under a program approved in 2019 with a total value of about €4.3 billion, translating to roughly €860 million per unit. Construction is taking place at Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard, with the first ship, the F-111 Bonifaz, launched on September 11, 2025, and scheduled for delivery in 2028, followed by one ship per year through the early 2030s. Three hulls are already under construction, placing the design in an active production phase at the same time Egypt is evaluating it for export.

The F110 is a multi-mission escort ship designed by Navantia with a particular emphasis on anti-submarine warfare while retaining balanced air and surface combat capabilities. The ship displaces about 6,100 tonnes, measures 145 meters in length with an 18-meter beam, and draws around 5 meters of water, positioning it among the heavier frigate classes currently under construction in Europe. Propulsion follows a combined diesel-electric and gas (CODLOG) configuration using a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine and four MTU 4000 diesel engines driving controllable-pitch propellers, allowing for a maximum speed above 35 knots, roughly 65 km/h. Crew complement is around 150 personnel, while the F110-class could stay up to 240 operational days at sea per year with periods of high availability extending to 18 months between major maintenance cycles.

The combat architecture of the F110 centers on Navantia’s SCOMBA combat management system integrated with the AN-SPY-7(V)2 radar and an International Aegis Fire Control Loop, enabling cooperative engagement and data sharing with allied naval and land-based assets. Anti-submarine warfare capability is anchored by a hull-mounted sonar and the Thales CAPTAS-4 towed array, supported by a shipborne helicopter, either the SH-60 Seahawk or the NH-90, which can be used for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and surface strike coordination beyond shipborne sensor range. Armament includes a 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system configured primarily for RIM-162 ESSM Block 2 missiles, with references to potential SM-2 integration depending on configuration, alongside Naval Strike Missiles in two quad launchers, a 127 mm main gun, 30 mm mounts, and lightweight torpedo launchers. For the Egyptian Navy, an F110 agreement would therefore represent not only a fleet enhancement but also a long-term industrial partnership shaping Egypt’s naval capabilities over several decades.

The Egyptian Navy is one of the largest naval forces in the Middle East and Africa, operating a fleet estimated at more than 150 vessels of all types, including surface combatants, submarines, amphibious ships, patrol vessels, and auxiliaries. By total hull numbers and displacement, it is generally assessed as the largest navy in the Arab world and Africa, and among the ten to fifteen largest globally, depending on classification criteria. Its strategic geographic position gives it simultaneous access to the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea, with direct responsibility for the northern and southern approaches to the Suez Canal, a transit route handling a significant share of global maritime trade. These factors place the Egyptian Navy at the center of critical chokepoints that are vital not only to national security but also to global shipping, explaining the country's sustained investment in blue-water capabilities.

Frigates represent a key component of the Egyptian Navy’s surface combatant structure and are used for escort duties, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and the protection of high-value naval and commercial assets. The current frigate inventory comprises 13 ships, including three FREMM-class frigates (one French and two Italians), four German MEKO A-200EN frigates built with partial local industrial participation (with two in order), as well as 6 former frigates acquired from the United States (four Oliver Hazard Perry-class and two Knox-class). These vessels are routinely deployed in the Mediterranean and Red Sea for sea line protection, task group escort, and joint exercises, and they form the backbone of Egypt’s surface warfare capability.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.