Abu Qir (ESP Descubierta)

The Descubierta-class corvettes are a series of light warships originally built by Bazán for the Spanish Navy. These versatile vessels, designed for anti-submarine warfare and patrol duties, have seen service in several navies, with one unit being known as Abu Qir.

Developed in the late 1970s with West German design assistance, these vessels were conceived as heavily armed, cost-effective platforms to secure coastal waters and vital sea lanes. Originally ordered by the Egyptian Navy in 1982, the Abu Qir was constructed by Bazán in Spain and officially commissioned into service in 1984. Throughout its career, the vessel has been deployed on extensive maritime security patrols in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, frequently participating in bilateral and multinational naval exercises such as Exercise Bright Star. Today, Abu Qir remains active in the Egyptian fleet, serving as a testament to the enduring reliability and adaptability of the Spanish-designed platform through periodic modernization of its radar and combat systems.