Feature 7 | United ArAb emirAtes
Fincantieri to build new corvette for UAE
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has been awarded a contract by the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) to build a single Abu Dhabi class corvette for delivery
in early 2011.
T
he ship will be built at the
company’s Riva Trigoso yard, and
the contract also encompasses
provision of logistic support and crew
training, and includes an option for a
second ship of the class.
Fincantieri has not released the specific
value of the UAE order; however, it says that
the corvette contract, plus a recently signed
order for a fleet tanker for the Indian Navy,
are worth a combined €250 million. The
UAE authorities have previously indicated
a value in the order of US$117 million
(€82 million).
Fincantieri was down-selected to build Artist’s rendering of the UAe’s new Abu dhabi class corvette.
the new 88m corvette for the UAE in
February 2009. The 1650tonne displacement
vessel’s design is derived from that of the A first export success was achieved in The contract marks the first sale for
Comandante Cigala Fulgosi class offshore January 2007 when RMK Marine was the company’s KRONOS 3D NV radar,
patrol vessels (OPVs) built for the Italian contracted to build four search and rescue developed by SELEX Sistemi Integrati
Navy, but modified to suit the specific vessels for the Turkish Coast Guard. based on its experience with the EMPAR
requirements of the UAE Naval Forces. This Fincantieri is RMK Marine’s industrial multifunction radar. Mechanically rotating
ship will be primarily tasked to perform partner for this programme, with the four at 60rpm, the system features an active
patrol and surveillance missions, but will vessels to be based on the proven Sirio
also include facilities for an embarked design. The total value of this programme to
helicopter and an organic anti-submarine Fincantieri is approximately €110 million, TEchnicAl pArTicUlArs
warfare (ASW) capability. covering design services, components, Abu Dhabi class
Indeed, the acquisition reflects the UAE transfer of technology, logistic support, and length, oa .........................................88.40m
Naval Forces’ ambition to reinstate an ASW training of RMK Marine staff. length, bp .........................................80.00m
capability, lost earlier this decade with the As part of the Abu Dhabi class programme, Moulded breadth .............................12.20m
retirement of the two Kortanaer class frigates three Finmeccanica subsidiaries – SELEX Moulded depth ..................................8.20m
Abu Dhabi (ex-HrMs Abraham Crijnssen) Sistemi Integrati, Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Full load displacement .............1650tonnes
and Al Emirat (ex-HrMs Piet Heyn). Subaquei (WASS) and Oto Melara – have (±1.5%)
According to the company, the Abu been awarded contracts totalling around Trial displacement .....................1530tonnes
Dhabi-class design will be powered by two €45 million to supply weapon, sensor Max speed at 95% Mcr ..............>25knots*
7,000kW-rated diesel engines, delivering a and command systems, together with cruising speed ................................. 14knots
speed of 25 knots, and a range of more than integration services, for the Abu Dhabi range at 14knots ....................over 3000nm
3000nm at an economic 14knots cruising class corvette programme. Endurance ........................................20 days
speed. Accommodation on board will SELEX Sistemi Integrati has been Accomodation ............70 (1 commanding
provide for a crew of approximately 70. awarded a contract worth around €15 officer, 9 officers, 48 petty officers, 12 crew)
The Abu Dhabi class corvette is the latest million to supply its IPN-S combat
derivation of Fincantieri’s Comandante management system, NA 30S fire control * Maximum continuous sustained speed,
class OPV design. An initial batch of four system, KRONOS 3D NV G-band cruising speed and range are referred to
vessels was commissioned into the Italian surveillance radar system, SIR-M secondary Trial Displacement (with not less than 50%
Navy between July 2001 and August 2002; radar and a Medusa Mk 4B electro-optical of consumables). Estimated maximum
two follow-on vessels, Sirio and Orione, surveillance system. The company will speed at full load displacement (about
delivered with a less capable combat suite, also take responsibility for the functional 1650tonnes is about 24.5knots).
followed in 2003. integration of the combat system.
Warship Technology October 2009
37
WT UAE OCT09.indd 37 17/09/2009 11:16:49
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