Feature 3 | OffshOre PAtrOl Vessels
First ‘Khareef’ OPV for Oman launched
RNOV Al Shamikh, the first of three 99m ocean patrol vessels (OPVs)
being built for the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) under Project ‘Khareef ’
was officially launched and named on 22 July during a ceremony at the
Portsmouth facility of UK shipbuilding and support group BVT Surface
Fleet.
A slim bulb bow
delivers improved
fuel economy
and enhanced
seakeeping.
W
hat was VT Shipbuilding Speaking at the launch ceremony, Rear relief. In addition, it offers a robust
was awarded a £400 million Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al-Raisi, self-defence capability against both surface
(US$655.5 million) contract in Commander Royal Navy of Oman, said and air threats, incorporates high levels
January 2007 for the delivery of the ‘Khareef’ the new ships “will bring a new dimension of redundancy and survivability, and is
programme; the contract was transferred to to the RNO’s fighting capabilities”, capable of supporting and operating a
BVT Surface Fleet, a joint venture between highlighting “improved habitability, longer medium helicopter.
BAE Systems and VT Group, on the endurance, an advanced combat system and A key attribute of the design is its
company’s formation in July 2008. an organic helicopter” as key characteristics flexibility to accommodate a mission
At 2700tonnes displacement, the that “will significantly augment the RNO’s payload offering varying levels of
‘Khareef’ vessels are, by some way, the largest operational capability”. capability according to the requirements of
and most complex surface combatants ever The ‘Khareef ’ design is a tailored the customer. This same flexibility allows
built for the RNO. The service sees the derivative of BVT’s generic 99m corvette, a the customer to select from a wide range
ships performing a number of missions design developed by the company to offer of candidate combat system equipments.
throughout the exclusive economic zone the user a flexible, efficient and capable These include the command and weapon
(EEZ), including protection of territorial patrol, surveillance and enforcement control system, fire control director,
waters, extended surveillance patrols, capability while at the same time ensuring small- and medium-calibre guns, surface-
maritime presence and interdiction, special low costs of ownership through-life. The to-surface missile system, short-range air
forces operations, search and rescue, and vessel is intended to undertake various defence system, soft-kill decoy suite, main
maritime disaster relief. In addition, the roles throughout the EEZ, including surveillance radar, navigation/LPI radar,
new ships will offer a robust self-defence protection of territorial waters, extended electronic support measures (ESM) outfit,
capability against both surface and air surveillance patrols, maritime presence and data link.
threats, and provide a capability to support and interdiction, Special Forces operations, Thales is principal subcontractor to BVT
and operate a medium-size helicopter. search and rescue, and maritime disaster for the ‘Khareef ’ combat system scope of
22 Warship Technology October 2009
WT OPVs OCT09.indd 22 17/09/2009 10:55:30
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