According to French Daily La Tribune, the European MBDA signed a contract with Egypt for the supply of VL-MICA anti-aircraft missiles, for the equipment of the MEKO frigate under construction. Egypt had originally selected the South African Umkhonto missiles (128 missiles), but the program did not go ahead due to Denel's financial problems.

In January 2019 Egypt and Germany agreed to build a MEKO-A200 frigate, with a total cost of € 500 million with 1 more option. In April 2019, Berlin approved the possible sale of up to six MEKO-A200 frigates in Egypt, with a total potential cost of € 2.3 billion.