NAVDEX 2017: Proposals for UAE Navy Future Corvette Requirement
 
UAE Navy Abu Dhabi ASW Corvette During IDEX-NAVDEX, held from 19th to 23rd February in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, many shipyards were showcasing their proposals for the so called "Bani Yas" program of the UAE Navy. According to our information, the program calls for two (with an option for one more) corvettes to the existing UAE Navy fleet of front line surface combatant consisting of 6x Baynunah-class corvettes (the final one, Al Hili was commissioned during NAVDEX 2017), 2x Falaj-class stealth patrol vessels and 1x Abu Dhabi-class ASW corvette.
 
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NAVDEX 2017 Online News Coverage - UAE Navy Future Corvettes
 
 
 
NAVDEX 2017: Proposals for UAE Navy Future Corvette Requirement
 
During IDEX-NAVDEX, held from 19th to 23rd February in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, many shipyards were showcasing their proposals for the so called "Bani Yas" (from Arabic: بَنُو ياس ) program of the UAE Navy. According to our information, the program calls for two (with an option for one more) corvettes to the existing UAE Navy fleet of front line surface combatant consisting of 6x Baynunah-class corvettes (the final one, Al Hili was commissioned during NAVDEX 2017), 2x Falaj-class stealth patrol vessels and 1x Abu Dhabi-class ASW corvette.

Most shipyards were understandably reluctant to share details with us, therefore this is merely an overview of some of the designs that Navy Recognition saw during the show. It is in no way an exhaustive list. The one piece of information we received from several shipyards however is that no detailed requirements have been set yet, despite the rumors of the UAE Navy looking for additional ASW Corvettes. This explains the great design differences of the solutions being proposed (not only in terms of equipment but in terms of size and displacement as well).
     
Navantia AVANTE 500Navantia's AVANTE 500 class Corvette CGI showcased at NAVDEX 2017
     
Navantia Avante 500
At NAVDEX 2017, right below its proposal for the Royal Saudi Navy (in CGI form), Navantia had another CGI of an Avante 500 fitted with a number of systems already in use with the UAE Navy. For this reason, we believe this design is being pitched by the Spanish shipyard to the UAE Navy for the Bani Yas program.

Baseline characteristics:
Displacement: About 500 tons (likely slightly more with the configuration below)
Length: 65 meters
Breadth: 9.3 meters
Maximum speed: 30 knots
Range: 2300 nautical miles at 15 knots
Crew: 38 + 4

Configuration as shown at NAVDEX:
1x Leonardo 76mm main gun
8x MBDA VL Mica surface to air missiles in VLS (right behind the mast)
2x2 MBDA Marte anti-ship missiles
2x Leonardo Marlin 30mm remote weapon stations
2x Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers
Propulsion: 4x diesel engines and 4x fixed pitch propellers
ASW capability: No
     
MSI Defence Seahawk Multi Weapon Station MWS 2Sigma 6110 scale model on Damen stand at NAVDEX 2017
     
Damen Sigma 6110
At NAVDEX 2017, Damen Shipyards from the Netherlands was showcasing for the very first time a new member in the SIGMA family: The SIGMA 6110 corvette. A Damen representative explained to us the vessel was designed to answer the specific needs of navies in the Gulf region but declined to comment specifically about UAE. However the design features a system configuration quite similar to Navantia's proposal.

Baseline characteristics:
Displacement: 639 tons
Length: 61 meters
Breadth: 10 meters
Maximum speed: 32 knots
Range: 6000 nautical miles at 15 knots
Crew: About 30 sailors

Configuration as shown at NAVDEX:
1x Leonardo 76mm main gun
2x2 MBDA Marte anti-ship missiles
2x 30mm remote weapon station
2x Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers
1x Raytheon RAM launcher
Propulsion: 2x diesel engines and 2x controllable pitch propellers
ASW capability: No
     
MSI Defence Seahawk Multi Weapon Station MWS 2Combattante BR71 MKII on CMN stand at NAVDEX 2017
     
CMN Combattante BR71 MKII
Unveiled by CMN two years ago, the Combattante BR71 MKII Corvette scale model was back at NAVDEX this year. It is an evolution and an upgrade of the sea and combat proven Baynunah class. The vessel is designed for littoral warfare defence operations against air and surface threats, patrolling tasks, law enforcement and ISR missions.

Baseline characteristics:
Displacement: About 930 tons
Length: 70.30 meters
Breadth: 11 meters
Maximum speed: 30 knots
Range: 2500 nautical miles at 12 knots
Crew: About 50 sailors

Configuration as shown at NAVDEX:
1x Leonardo 76mm main gun
8x VLS for surface to air missiles
8x MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles
2x 20mm remote weapon stations
2x Sylena Mk2 IN decoy launchers
2x MBDA SIMBAD RC
Propulsion: 4x diesel engines and 4x waterjets
ASW capability: No (technically a containerized sonar system could be fitted on the helicopter deck but the effectiveness would be rather limited because of the waterjet propulsion)
     
UAE Navy Abu Dhabi ASW CorvetteUAE Navy Abu Dhabi ASW Corvette. Picture: Fincantieri
     
Fincantieri Abu Dhabi-class ASW corvette
At the main exhibition area (IDEX 2017), Fincantieri from Italy was showcasing a scale model of the UAE Navy Abu Dhabi-class ASW corvette. Based on the Comandanti-class patrol vessels of the Italian Navy, Abu Dhabi was commissioned in January 2013. There was an option for a second unit in the contract signed back in February 2009.

Characteristics:
Displacement: 1,650 tons
Length: 88.40 meters
Breadth: 12.20 meters
Maximum speed: 25 knots
Range: 3000 nautical miles at 14 knots
Crew: About 70 sailors

Configuration:
1x Leonardo 76mm main gun
8x MBDA VL Mica surface to air missiles in VLS
2x2 MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles
2x Leonardo Marlin 30mm remote weapon stations
2x Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers
Propulsion: 2x diesel engines and 2x propellers
ASW capability: Yes. Thales Captas 1 variable depth sonar & Kingklip hull mounted sonar. 2x torpedo launchers.
     
GowindDCNS Gowind 2500 Corvette scale model at IDEX 2017
     
DCNS Gowing 2500
Present at both IDEX and NAVDEX, French shipyard DCNS was showcasing its Gowind 2500 corvette. The type has already been selected by Egypt (4 units) and Malaysia (6 units in a slightly larger variant).

Baseline characteristics:
Displacement: 2500 tons
Length: 102 meters
Breadth: 16 meters
Maximum speed: 25 knots
Range: 3700 nautical miles at 15 knots
Crew: About 65 sailors + 15

Configuration as shown at NAVDEX:
1x Leonardo 76mm main gun
16x MBDA VL Mica surface to air missiles in VLS
2x4 MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles
2x Nexter Narhwal 20mm remote weapon stations
2x Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers
Propulsion: Diesel Electric with 2x propellers
ASW capability: Yes. Thales Captas 2 variable depth sonar & Kingklip hull mounted sonar. 2x torpedo launchers.
     
Tuo Chiang classTuo Chiang-class scale model on NCSIST stand at NAVDEX 2017
     
Other possible proposals
As mentionned before, this list is in no way comprehensive but merely an overview of the many designs which were showcased at IDEX/NAVDEX. Worth mentioning are also the proposals from China as well as Taiwan's NCSIST Tuo Chiang-class catamaran corvette (pictured above). Representatives at NAVDEX said they were ready to cooperate with the UAE. Last but not least, while Turkish defence and engineering services vendor STM (Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik) was not exhibiting, Navy Recognition learned that Turkey was likely proposing its MILGEM corvette to the UAE Navy.

Tuo Chiang-class corvette characteristics:
Displacement: 567 tons
Length: 60.4 meters
Breadth: 14 meters
Maximum speed: 40 knots
Range: 3700 nautical miles at 15 knots
Crew: 41

Configuration:
1x Leonardo 76mm main gun
8x Hsiung Feng II subsonic anti-ship missile
8x Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship missile
1x Phalanx CIWS
2x decoy launchers
Propulsion: Diesel with 4x waterjets
ASW capability: Yes. According to NCSIST, the class is fitted with a variable depth sonar & 2x Mk32 torpedo launching systems