IDEX 2009 :More fast craft for UAE

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has secured contracts worth more than AED930m (US$253m) to build further ‘Ghannatha’ class fast craft for the UAE Navy and upgrade its existing fleet.
A total of 12 new missile-armed fast combat vessels will be built to a modified ‘Ghannatha’ class design. ADSB will also lead the refit and upgrade of the 12 existing ‘Ghannatha’ fast troop carriers.

An AED771.1m (US$210m) contract for the 12 new vessels – an enlarged version of the original 25m ‘Ghannatha’ design incorporating a hull stretch and more powerful MTU engines – was announced at IDEX on 23 February. It is understood that each vessel will be fitted with surface-to-surface guided missiles.

ADSB is prime contractor for the programme. Swede Ship Marine, as its design partner and principal subcontractor, will take responsibility for the design modification package and also build the first three new vessels in Sweden. The nine follow-on craft will be constructed by ADSB at its shipyard in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah industrial area. A second contract, worth AED164.3m (US$44.7m), covers the refit and upgrade of the UAE’s existing ‘Ghannatha’ boats. The IDEX Show Daily understands that six will be modified to receive a smoothbore mortar system amidships; the other six will receive additional gun armament.

The main role of the ‘Ghannatha’ class vessels is patrol, surveillance, interception and anti-surface warfare operations in the UAE’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.Abu Dhabi Systems Integration (ADSI) will undertake combat system engineering and integration activities for the programme. ADSI, a joint venture between ADSB and Selex Sistemi Integrati, will be responsible for overseeing combat system definition and design, production, support to installation, setting-to-work, integration, commissioning and acceptance.

Posted in: Abu Dhabi,IDEX,Missile boat,UAE