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NAVDEX 2017 Online News Coverage - UAE Navy Future Corvettes
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NAVDEX 2017: Proposals for UAE Navy Future Corvette Requirement
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| During IDEX-NAVDEX, held from 19th to 23rd February in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, many shipyards were showcasing their proposals for the so called "Bani Yas" (from Arabic: بَنُو ياس ) program of the UAE Navy. According to our information, the program calls for two (with an option for one more) corvettes to the existing UAE Navy fleet of front line surface combatant consisting of 6x Baynunah-class corvettes (the final one, Al Hili was commissioned during NAVDEX 2017), 2x Falaj-class stealth patrol vessels and 1x Abu Dhabi-class ASW corvette. Most shipyards were understandably reluctant to share details with us, therefore this is merely an overview of some of the designs that Navy Recognition saw during the show. It is in no way an exhaustive list. The one piece of information we received from several shipyards however is that no detailed requirements have been set yet, despite the rumors of the UAE Navy looking for additional ASW Corvettes. This explains the great design differences of the solutions being proposed (not only in terms of equipment but in terms of size and displacement as well). |
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 Navantia's AVANTE 500 class Corvette CGI showcased at NAVDEX 2017 |
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| Navantia Avante 500 At NAVDEX 2017, right below its proposal for the Royal Saudi Navy (in CGI form), Navantia had another CGI of an Avante 500 fitted with a number of systems already in use with the UAE Navy. For this reason, we believe this design is being pitched by the Spanish shipyard to the UAE Navy for the Bani Yas program. Baseline characteristics: Displacement: About 500 tons (likely slightly more with the configuration below) Length: 65 meters Breadth: 9.3 meters Maximum speed: 30 knots Range: 2300 nautical miles at 15 knots Crew: 38 + 4 Configuration as shown at NAVDEX: 1x Leonardo 76mm main gun 8x MBDA VL Mica surface to air missiles in VLS (right behind the mast) 2x2 MBDA Marte anti-ship missiles 2x Leonardo Marlin 30mm remote weapon stations 2x Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers Propulsion: 4x diesel engines and 4x fixed pitch propellers ASW capability: No |
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 Sigma 6110 scale model on Damen stand at NAVDEX 2017 |
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| Damen Sigma 6110 At NAVDEX 2017, Damen Shipyards from the Netherlands was showcasing for the very first time a new member in the SIGMA family: The SIGMA 6110 corvette. A Damen representative explained to us the vessel was designed to answer the specific needs of navies in the Gulf region but declined to comment specifically about UAE. However the design features a system configuration quite similar to Navantia's proposal. Baseline characteristics: Displacement: 639 tons Length: 61 meters Breadth: 10 meters Maximum speed: 32 knots Range: 6000 nautical miles at 15 knots Crew: About 30 sailors Configuration as shown at NAVDEX: 1x Leonardo 76mm main gun 2x2 MBDA Marte anti-ship missiles 2x 30mm remote weapon station 2x Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers 1x Raytheon RAM launcher Propulsion: 2x diesel engines and 2x controllable pitch propellers ASW capability: No |
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 Combattante BR71 MKII on CMN stand at NAVDEX 2017 |
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| CMN Combattante BR71 MKII Unveiled by CMN two years ago, the Combattante BR71 MKII Corvette scale model was back at NAVDEX this year. It is an evolution and an upgrade of the sea and combat proven Baynunah class. The vessel is designed for littoral warfare defence operations against air and surface threats, patrolling tasks, law enforcement and ISR missions. Baseline characteristics: Displacement: About 930 tons Length: 70.30 meters Breadth: 11 meters Maximum speed: 30 knots Range: 2500 nautical miles at 12 knots Crew: About 50 sailors Configuration as shown at NAVDEX: 1x Leonardo 76mm main gun 8x VLS for surface to air missiles 8x MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles 2x 20mm remote weapon stations 2x Sylena Mk2 IN decoy launchers 2x MBDA SIMBAD RC Propulsion: 4x diesel engines and 4x waterjets ASW capability: No (technically a containerized sonar system could be fitted on the helicopter deck but the effectiveness would be rather limited because of the waterjet propulsion) |
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 UAE Navy Abu Dhabi ASW Corvette. Picture: Fincantieri |
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| Fincantieri Abu Dhabi-class ASW corvette At the main exhibition area (IDEX 2017), Fincantieri from Italy was showcasing a scale model of the UAE Navy Abu Dhabi-class ASW corvette. Based on the Comandanti-class patrol vessels of the Italian Navy, Abu Dhabi was commissioned in January 2013. There was an option for a second unit in the contract signed back in February 2009. Characteristics: Displacement: 1,650 tons Length: 88.40 meters Breadth: 12.20 meters Maximum speed: 25 knots Range: 3000 nautical miles at 14 knots Crew: About 70 sailors Configuration: 1x Leonardo 76mm main gun 8x MBDA VL Mica surface to air missiles in VLS 2x2 MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles 2x Leonardo Marlin 30mm remote weapon stations 2x Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers Propulsion: 2x diesel engines and 2x propellers ASW capability: Yes. Thales Captas 1 variable depth sonar & Kingklip hull mounted sonar. 2x torpedo launchers. |
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 DCNS Gowind 2500 Corvette scale model at IDEX 2017 |
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| DCNS Gowing 2500 Present at both IDEX and NAVDEX, French shipyard DCNS was showcasing its Gowind 2500 corvette. The type has already been selected by Egypt (4 units) and Malaysia (6 units in a slightly larger variant). Baseline characteristics: Displacement: 2500 tons Length: 102 meters Breadth: 16 meters Maximum speed: 25 knots Range: 3700 nautical miles at 15 knots Crew: About 65 sailors + 15 Configuration as shown at NAVDEX: 1x Leonardo 76mm main gun 16x MBDA VL Mica surface to air missiles in VLS 2x4 MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles 2x Nexter Narhwal 20mm remote weapon stations 2x Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers Propulsion: Diesel Electric with 2x propellers ASW capability: Yes. Thales Captas 2 variable depth sonar & Kingklip hull mounted sonar. 2x torpedo launchers. |
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 Tuo Chiang-class scale model on NCSIST stand at NAVDEX 2017 |
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| Other possible proposals As mentionned before, this list is in no way comprehensive but merely an overview of the many designs which were showcased at IDEX/NAVDEX. Worth mentioning are also the proposals from China as well as Taiwan's NCSIST Tuo Chiang-class catamaran corvette (pictured above). Representatives at NAVDEX said they were ready to cooperate with the UAE. Last but not least, while Turkish defence and engineering services vendor STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik) was not exhibiting, Navy Recognition learned that Turkey was likely proposing its MILGEM corvette to the UAE Navy. Tuo Chiang-class corvette characteristics: Displacement: 567 tons Length: 60.4 meters Breadth: 14 meters Maximum speed: 40 knots Range: 3700 nautical miles at 15 knots Crew: 41 Configuration: 1x Leonardo 76mm main gun 8x Hsiung Feng II subsonic anti-ship missile 8x Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship missile 1x Phalanx CIWS 2x decoy launchers Propulsion: Diesel with 4x waterjets ASW capability: Yes. According to NCSIST, the class is fitted with a variable depth sonar & 2x Mk32 torpedo launching systems |
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