IDEX 2009:Baynunah corvette on the launchpad

French shipbuilder Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) (French Pavilion, Hall 7, Stand C29) is pushing forward with outfit activity on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Naval Forces’ first Baynunah corvette in preparation for its launch later this year. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) (UAE Mubadala Pavilion, Atrium, Stand A40) is continuing to progress the local construction of the five follow-on vessels at its yard in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah industrial area.

Claimed to be the single largest naval shipbuilding programme in the Middle East, the AED3bn (US$820m) Baynunah programme covers the design, build and integration of six state-of-theart 72m multimission corvettes intended to provide the UAE Naval Forces with a capability to conduct sustained operations throughout the Gulf region. Specified missions include peacetime patrols in the UAE’s territorial waters and wider exclusive economic zone, together with surveillance, maritime interdiction, support to land forces and protection of ports and UAE-flagged vessels.

UAE-based ADSB is prime contractor for the Baynunah programme under a December 2003 contract award. CMN, as strategic partner, design agent and principal subcontractor, is constructing the first of class at Cherbourg, and also delivering a technology transfer package for the follow-on vessels being constructed by ADSB.

The first-of-class corvette is now structurally complete inside CMN’s assembly hall, with its main propulsion machinery package installed and equipment outfitting well underway. Launch is planned for mid-2009, with sea trials to follow later in the year.

Meanwhile, ADSB’s construction programme is following close behind. The first vessel to be built at the yard is now structurally complete (inset to main picture), with the remainder all in various stages of build. The company plans to deliver its first ship eight months after the CMN-built first-of-class, with subsequent deliveries to follow at six-month intervals.

Italy’s Selex Sistemi Integrati is a combat system integrator for the Baynunah programme, and is also supplying the NA-25XM fire-control system and a six-console variant of its IPN-S combat management system for the corvettes.

Other key system suppliers to the Baynunah programme include: Sagem (EOMS electro-optical director); MBDA (MM40 Block 3 Exocet anti-ship missiles); Saab Microwave Systems (Sea Giraffe AMB surveillance radar); Elettronica (Seal electronic support measures); Raytheon (Mk 56 dual-pack launchers, RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow missiles and Mk 31 Rolling Airframe Missile system); Rheinmetall (MASS soft-kill system and MLG 27 close-in guns); Terma (Scanter 2001 surface surveillance radar); and Saab Avitronics (NLWS 310 laser warner).

Posted in: IDEX,Middle East,Missile,Missile corvette,UAE