The Gowind 2500 corvette is one of two variants in the Gowind family of multi-mission corvettes developed by DCNS Group (now Naval Group). The Gowind family includes vessels with lengths from 85 to 111 metres (278 ft 10 in to 364 ft 2 in) and displacement from 1,000 tons to 3,100 tons. Gowind 2500 corvette can perform complex naval missions, including anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), as well as low-intensity operations such as maritime security, surveillance and patrol missions against trafficking and piracy. The Gowind 2500 is a steel mono-hull vessel offering superior stealth capabilities.
The Gowind 2500 corvette’s low-acoustic signature and radar cross section avoid easy detection by hostile platforms, making the corvette stealthier than other vessels in its class. The vessel allows the integration of multiple mission modules to meet emerging operational requirements of the users. The corvette has a length of 102m, beam of 16m, depth of 5.4m, and displacement of 2,500t. The Gowind 2500 can complement a crew of 65, and 15 Special Forces. The power-plant provides a maximum speed of more than 25kt. The corvette can attain a range of 4,000 nautical miles (nm) at speeds of 15kt.
DCNS Group received the first contract for Gowind® 2500 from the Royal Malaysian Navy in 2014. The contract also includes a technology transfer agreement for the construction of six corvettes at the Boustead Naval Shipyard in Malaysia. The Egyptian Navy entered an agreement with DCNS in June 2014 for the design and construction of four Gowind® 2500 corvettes. The contract also includes a technology transfer agreement for building three units at Alexandria Shipyard in Egypt. DCNS cut the metal for the first corvette at Lorient, in April 2015.Deliveries of all units are scheduled to be completed before 2019. The Egyptian Navy Gowind 2500 is powered by combined diesel and electric propulsion system.
The vessel is equipped with facilities for an embarked helicopter and drones. The corvettes will be armed with an OTO Melara 76mm main gun, two Nexter Narwhal 20mm cannons, a vertical launch system (VLS) for 16 VL Mica surface-to-air missiles, eight MBDA MM40 Exocet anti-ship missile launchers and two triple torpedo launchers. Electronic warfare & decoys for Egypt’s Gowind 2500: Vigile 200 Tactical R-ESM System, Altesse Naval C-ESM and Sylena MK2 decoy launcher system. The Gowind 2500 corvettes incorporate the SETIS combat system, which is also in service with FREMM frigates. The onboard sensors and radars include a 3D radar, electronic support measures (ESM) suite, a hull-mounted sonar, a variable depth sonar (VDS) and a fire control system.
