Russia and Egypt Conduct ‘Friendship Bridge 2025’ Naval Exercise in the Mediterranean

From April 6 to 10, 2025, the Russian Navy and the Egyptian Navy took part in the bilateral naval exercise Friendship Bridge 2025 in the Mediterranean Sea. The drills aimed to strengthen maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two countries’ naval forces.

The exercise focused on a range of naval operations, including joint tactical maneuvering, communication training, and coordination of shipborne helicopter operations.

The Egyptian Navy was represented by several corvettes and the FREMM frigate Al-Ghalala (FFG 1002), a general-purpose Bergamini-class vessel originally developed for the Italian Navy. On the Russian side, the exercise included the participation of the frigates Admiral Golovko and Admiral Grigorovich, along with the fleet tanker Vyazma—currently the only three surface combatants the Russian Navy maintains in the Mediterranean.

#FriendshipBridge2025 🇷🇺🇪🇬 Friendship Bridge 2025 bilateral naval exercise was held in the Mediterranean Sea from 6 to 10 April. The manoeuvres involved the Navy of the Russian Federation and the Navy of the Arab Republic of Egypt. pic.twitter.com/DmKYlBIVy9

— Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) April 14, 2025

Conducted in the PASSEX (Passing Exercise) format, the training emphasized combat coordination, joint maneuvering, maritime interdiction procedures, and inter-fleet communication protocols.

The Friendship Bridge series, first launched in 2015, underscores the growing military ties between Russia and Egypt, and is designed to reinforce regional maritime security while showcasing both countries’ commitment to stability in the Mediterranean region.

Notably, the participation of the Al-Ghalala, an Italian-designed FREMM frigate, drew attention among Russian observers, which had the opportunity to closely observe a vessel class that forms the backbone of the Italian Navy. While it’s presumed that the Egyptian FREMMs do not carry the same sensitive systems or classified equipment as their Italian counterparts, the presence of such a platform in the exercise likely held significant intelligence value.