Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE Navy's newest addition to its naval fleet was proudly displayed to the public at the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) exhibition in Abu Dhabi this week. Complete with air, surface and sub-surface defence capabilities, the ship stands as a testament to the growing manufacturing capacity of the country.
Built by Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) in conjunction with UAE-based Edge Group and several foreign partners, the Falaj 3 class vessel is a state-of-the-art of defence vessel set to bolster the country's naval defence.
"Of course, this ship has weapons from other countries, but the core of the ship is built in here in the UAE by ADSB," a naval officer leading a tour of the ship said on Thursday.
"It is the first ship to be completely built here in Abu Dhabi."
In May 2021, ADSB secured its largest-ever contract, valued at Dh3.5 billion from the UAE Ministry of Defence and the UAE Navy to construct four Falaj 3-class offshore patrol vessels. As part of the agreement, ADSB enlisted Singapore's ST Engineering Company to handle the design of the vessels, while also providing technical support for the construction of the first ship in the series.
The Falaj 3-class OPVs, based on ST Engineering's Fearless-class patrol boats, are 62.7 metres long and designed for enhanced stealth.
The structure minimises radar cross-section, infrared and acoustic signatures, ensuring a low-profile presence at sea. According to the brochure, the ship is capable of operating in both littoral and blue waters and is designed to deal with modern asymmetric warfare.
The vessels will be powered by four high-performance engines, driving four propellers to achieve speeds exceeding 26 knots. They also feature four generators capable of producing 1.2 megawatts of power. The integrated platform management system is meant to enable centralised monitoring and control of all onboard systems, with a comprehensive suite of safety and firefighting equipment. Each ship is equipped with a rigid-hull inflatable boat for additional versatility.
The vessel also includes missile systems designed and built by the UAE-based EDGE Group as well as other foreign systems, exemplifying the increasing sophistication of the UAE's weapons industry.
"The commissioning of the 'ALTAF', the first-of-class vessel of the prestigious Falaj 3 programme, is a proud moment for EDGE, ADSB, and the UAE's defence industry," Khaled Al Zaabi, President – Platforms & Systems at EDGE and the Chairman of ADSB, said in a statement.
"This achievement underscores our leadership in delivering sophisticated naval capabilities and reflects the nation's ambition to be at the forefront of naval innovation… setting a new benchmark for national shipbuilding and reinforcing the UAE's sovereign capabilities."
