Swiftships Shipbuilders has been awarded a contract by the US Department of Defense for detail, design and construction of four 28m-long coastal patrol crafts (CPCs) for the Egyptian Navy.

The $20.2m contract is a modification to a previously awarded contract under the foreign military sales programme.

Under the latest contract, Swiftships will also provide two co-assembly kits and two co-production kits, and associated crew familiarisation training and technical services.

The kits include all necessary material and will be shipped to Egypt for the construction of the four CPCs by a local workforce.

Work will be carried out in Louisiana, Alexandria, Egypt, and is expected to be completed by February 2014.

The US Naval Sea Systems Command will be the contracting activity.