![First sea trials of the French-made Gowind 2500 corvette El Fateh, made for the Egyptian Navy [Ahmed XIV / Wikipedia]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Egyptian_Navy_Gowind_2500_corvette_El_Fateh_971-e1506167278998.jpg?fit=920%2C588&ssl=1)
Egyptian naval forces left for France on Sunday to take part in a joint exercise with French troops, according to the Egyptian military.
The drill aims to enhance naval security cooperation and exchange expertise between forces of both countries, a military statement said.
The exercise also aims to “get acquainted with different combat doctrines and deal with the latest technologies in combat systems”, the statement said.
Since mid-2014, Cairo and Paris have signed a range of arms deals, making France – alongside the US and Russia – one of Egypt’s main sources for weapons.