Tunisia has received two 34-metre Island-class patrol boats from the United States government to increase the country’s ability to secure its 1 148-kilometer coastline, which faces smuggling, organised crime and terrorism threats.
The boats, named Tazarka and Menzel Bourguiba, were previously part of the US Coast Guard fleet. They were refurbished and modernized before being transferred to Tunisia.
Each patrol boat is powered by two diesel engines enabling speeds of up to 30 knots and a range of 3 380 nautical miles at 8 knots. Their high-strength steel hulls, combined with aluminium superstructures, accommodate a crew of two officers and fourteen enlisted sailors. As for armament, they are equipped with a 25 mm Mk-38 cannon and two .50 calibre machine guns, providing basic defensive capability suitable for patrol duties.
In a statement, Khaled Shili, Tunisia’s Minister of National Defence, praised the depth of historical relations between the two countries, their longtime strategic partnership and bilateral cooperation. He said Tunisia is ready to advance bilateral cooperation with the US to further develop operational capabilities and exchange military expertise.
Officials commissioned the boats on 17 April, the same day the USS Mount Whitney visited La Goulette, home to Tunisia’s main naval base. The date also marked the anniversary of the 1805 Battle of Derna during the First Barbary War, when US Marines and Tunisian troops scored a decisive victory over the Barbary pirates.
The Tunisian defence ministry said in a statement that the patrol boats will contribute to the protection of maritime borders, where various risks and threats such as smuggling, organized crime, irregular migration, and terrorism loom.
Over the years, various countries have incorporated Island-class patrol boats through sales or transfers similar to the Excess Defence Articles programme. These vessels are currently in active service with the maritime forces of Colombia, Georgia, Costa Rica, Greece, Pakistan, and Ukraine, extending their operational life beyond US shores. A total of forty-nine have been built, and they were all named for US islands.
Tunisia also is expected to buy an undisclosed number of 20-metre Archangel patrol boats from the US at an estimated total cost of $110 million. The purchase will include training, GPS, navigation and communications systems. The boats are intended for use near shore and in inland waterways. Analysts told Breaking Defense that such boats are particularly useful for anti-smuggling and light security patrols.
Tunisia’s status as a regional maritime force began to change dramatically in 2009, when it received $14.5 million in military financing from the US for 10 small 8-meter response boats and five medium 13-meter response boats, along with spare parts, training and support. Response boats typically are used in counternarcotics operations, search and rescue, trafficking interdiction, and environmental response.
Since 2011, the US has invested over $1 billion in security cooperation with Tunisia.
Other Recent US Deliveries
In November 2024, the US delivered a C-130H2 Hercules aircraft valued at 36 million Tunisian dinars ($12 million) to the Tunisian Air Force, which is in the midst of a major modernization effort for its fleet of transport aircraft.
In September 2024, Tunisia improved its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities by acquiring four Textron Aviation C-208B Grand Caravan EX aircraft from the US These planes are configured for intelligence missions, with night vision capabilities and other sophisticated surveillance equipment. The $54 million deal had a comprehensive support package with spare parts, flight training, technical drawings, logistics support and ground support equipment.
