The Egyptian Navy conducted on January 3 a large-scale exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, focusing on amphibious warfare tactics.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Defense of Egypt said that Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Gamal Abdel Nasser, Gowind-class corvettes, Perry-class frigates and 209-class diesel-electric attack submarine took part in the exercise.
Ka-52K Katran and AH-64 Apache helicopters, operating from Gamal Abdel Nasser, as well as F-16 fighter jets provided air support during the exercise.
Furthermore, several anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates and SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters carried out anti-submarine drills.
“The training was characterized by diversity in fighting methods with the use of all elements of the amphibious process, both in terms of planning and careful implementation of all the main branches, tactical formations and special forces, which clearly reflected the capabilities of the general leadership of the armed forces in supervising, commanding and controlling this type of complex training at the strategic and tactical level which require coordination at all levels,” Egyptian military spokesman Col. Tamer Al-Rifai said in the statement.
The large-scale exercises came amid high tension with Turkey, which reached a controversial maritime agreement with the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya on eastern Mediterranean last month.
The tension intensified earlier this week, when the Turkish parliament approved a bill allowing the deployment of forces in Libya to support the GNA. The Libyan government is now facing an attack by the Libyan National Army (LNA), which is backed by Egypt.
The Egyptian Navy’s drills reflects Cairo’s determination to counter the growing Turkish influence in neighboring Libya and the eastern Mediterranean in general.
SF could give an opinion of which party would likely prevail in a scuffle in the Med over Libya.
Egypt or Turkey?
Since Russia is on the same side as Egypt and Egypt has a long common boarder with Libya and Israel backs them behind the scenes and Turkey has pissed off its NATO partners, my money would be on Egypt.
I go Egypt. Remember Turkey imprisoned hundreds of their to commanders over that coup.
Interesting to see KA-52K & AH-64 operating from the same ship, not something you see everyday. Egypt’s military certainly seems impressive, although I wonder if it would turn out to be a paper-tiger like Saudi Arabia?