Posted on 01/22/2010 9:17:42 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
--- Fincantieri has gained a further important new order from the United Arab Emirates Navy for the construction of two stealth vessels, “Falaj 2”. The contract includes an option for a further two sister ships for the UAE Navy and technology transfer from the Company to a local shipyard.
Two of the four vessels will be built at the Group’s Italian shipyards, with delivery scheduled in the second half of 2012.
At 55 metres long and 8.60 metres wide the ships will be able to exceed 20 knots and accommodate a crew of 28. They will feature advanced stealth characteristics to reduce their detectability.
Highly flexible and versatile, the vessels will be suited to carrying out a range of missions – from patrol and surveillance operations to self-defence in case of threats from the air or surface and attack against both targets at sea and on land – in national and international scenarios, whilst affording high standards of accommodation and safety.
Today’s order follows the order announced in August 2009 for the construction of an “Abu Dhabi class” corvette for the UAE. This further order is even more important for Italian industry since the combat system, as for the “Abu Dhabi class” ship, will be supplied by Selex Sistemi Integrati, a Finmeccanica Company.
Commenting on the order Fincantieri’s Chief Executive officer Giuseppe Bono said: “We continue to reap what we have sown. Gaining this new order is further reassurance and confirms that we were far-sighted in choosing, in recent years, to explore new markets, besides the domestic market, also in the Defence sector.”
(Excerpt) Read more at defense-aerospace.com ...
She looks great
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