By Sarah Saad
Egypt marks its Naval Forces Day on October 21. This day commemorates the memory of the first Egyptian naval battle after the 1967 defeat.
On October 21, 1967, two missile boats of the Port Said Naval Base carried out a strike, using surface-to-surface missiles against the Eilat destroyer, largest Israeli naval unit at the time.
The Israeli destroyer had violated Egyptian territorial waters to demonstrate Israeli control over the maritime theatre of operations.
The Egyptian Navy succeeded in sinking the destroyer, marking a significant milestone in global naval history.
It was the first time a small naval craft managed to destroy a large warship, leading to a change in global strategic thought.
Since then, October 21 has been designated as the Egyptian Navy Day.
In this context, Vice-Admiral Ashraf Atwa, commander of the Egyptian Navy, said: “Egypt celebrates the 57th anniversary of its Naval Forces, which coincides with the memory of October 21, 1967, when our Navy launched the world’s first naval missile and destroyed the Israeli destroyer, Eilat”.
He noted that this day serves as a reassuring message to Egyptians that victory and dignity are inevitable through the determination and persistence of the Armed Forces.
The Naval Forces Day, he added, also coincides with the 51st anniversary of the October 6, 1973, victories, which reclaimed Sinai from Israeli occupation.
Atwa further highlighted the significant progress achieved by the Navy over the past decade, supported by the political leadership and the Armed Forces’ General Command.
These developments, he said, include upgrading the infrastructure of naval bases and enhancing the Navy’s combat capabilities to ensure it can effectively carry out its missions in both the Mediterranean and Red Sea theatres.
“The Navy has acquired various advanced vessels, some of which were built at Egyptian shipyards,” Vice-Admiral Atwa said.
He added that these vessels include Gowind-class corvettes and the MEKO-class frigates.
“They significantly boost the Navy’s capacity to secure Egypt’s coasts and assert sovereignty over its territorial waters,” he said.
He added that the Navy renews its pledge before God to exert all efforts to safeguard Egypt’s security and maritime borders, along with the national resources they encompass.
“We stand ready to fulfil our duties, relying on the determination of the personnel of our Naval Forces to elevate our beloved Egypt,” he said in a speech during a ceremony marking the Navy Day.
“May God protect Egypt, its people, and its military under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the supreme commander of the Armed Forces,” he added.
A question and answer session was held following the ceremony.
Most of the questions of the members of the media present focused on Egypt’s political and military influence, which stems from its moderate political approach and ability to maintain balanced relations with various international players.
Atwa said this has led major nations to invite Egypt to participate in numerous international forums and conferences, involving decision-makers and naval commanders from leading global powers.
He referred to the military’s commitment to achieving scientific and technological advancements.
The Navy, he said, signed a co-operation protocol with Alexandria University, granting Naval Academy cadets a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the university.
Regarding Egypt’s leadership of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in 2022, Atwa said the CMF is a multinational maritime partnership, not a military alliance in the traditional sense.
Its core principles, he said, are adherence to international maritime law and support for regional maritime security.
Speaking to The Egyptian Gazette, Atwa revealed plans to bolster the Navy’s combat capabilities, announcing an agreement with the German company TKMS to acquire four MEKO A-200 frigates, three of which are being built in Germany, while the fourth is being constructed at the Alexandria Shipyard.
This, he said, aligns with the Navy’s strategy of joint manufacturing and technology transfer.
This strategy, he added, was successfully implemented with the Gowind-class corvettes built in collaboration with France.
Two MEKO A-200 frigates, al-Aziz and al-Qahhar have already been delivered, along with three Cyclone-class patrol boats from the United States, Atwa said.
He added that the Navy possesses three key industrial facilities: the Naval Ship Repair Yard, the Egyptian Ship Repair and Building Company, and Alexandria Shipyard.
“These facilities work together as an integrated system capable of maintaining and repairing Egyptian naval vessels and are now also capable of shipbuilding after being upgraded to meet global standards,” he said.
He highlighted the construction of port security boats, pilot boats, and tugboats, in addition to collaborating with friendly and allied nations in joint manufacturing.
Atwa also underscored the Navy’s efforts, in co-operation with other relevant state bodies, to deliver decisive blows to those involved in illegal migration operations.
Looking ahead, the commander outlined his vision for the Navy’s advancement on both regional and global levels, saying: “Given the rapid pace of scientific and technological progress around the world, we must continually strive to elevate the skills of our naval personnel across all fields to keep pace with the fast-evolving developments of today”.
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