TSAMTO, June 21. The Lebanese Navy expects to receive seven patrol ships, including four from France and three Protector-class ships from the United States, as part of the assistance program.
According to Defense News, referring to the commander of the Lebanese Navy, Haissam Dannaoui, the issue of supplying Lebanon with four patrol ships with a length of 65 and 75 meters is currently being discussed with French shipbuilding companies.
The supply of ships by France will not be carried out within the framework of military assistance. As a result of the Rome II conference on supporting the Lebanese armed forces and Law enforcement agencies held in March 2018, France pledged to open a credit line to Lebanon in the amount of 400 million euros (about 488 million dollars) for the purchase of French-made military equipment to equip the armed forces and law enforcement agencies of this country.
Negotiations to determine the technical characteristics and cost of the ships are still ongoing.
In turn, in early May, the US Department of Defense notified Lebanon about the planned transfer of three Protector-class patrol boats to the country's Navy. Once delivered in 2022, they are expected to improve the Lebanese Navy's ability to counter external and regional threats and ensure freedom of navigation and trade. The US State Department has confirmed its commitment to allocate $ 120 million to Lebanon in fiscal year 2021 under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, which is $ 15 million more than last year.
According to a member of the Lebanese parliament, retired army General Wehbe Katicha, the ships will help protect the Lebanese coast and territorial waters. The length of the Lebanese coast is about 150 km. Patrol ships will provide the ability to counter smuggling and illegal migration and protect territorial waters from terrorist attacks. The delivery of the ships will also help ensure the safety of offshore oil exploration in the Mediterranean Sea.
According to retired General Khalil Helu, the Lebanese Navy actually has only seven usable patrol boats, the maintenance of which is becoming increasingly expensive. According to the general, the Navy has limited capabilities, so it is necessary to repair existing ships, purchase new ships and modern coastal radars to detect threats in a timely manner hundreds of miles from the coast.
