Posted on 02/08/2014 1:03:32 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
The Baynunah Corvette Class Programme is one of the biggest warship construction programme implemented by the ADSB for the UAE Navy.
The Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company (ADSB) has delivered Al Hili, the sixth and last of the Baynunah Corvette Class Programme, to the UAE Navy in a grand ceremony attended by Rear Admiral Ibrahim Al Musharrakh, Commander of the UAE Naval Forces, top navy officers and Khaled Al Maraikhi, Chief Operating Officer, ADSB, and Chief of Pakistani Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandila.
Baynunah Corvettes are a unique class of warship with multi-mission capabilities, including coastal patrol and surveillance, mine detection and avoidance, helicopter operations, as well as anti-air and anti-surface capabilities. In performing these missions, Baynunah will utilise the very latest in weapons and sensor technology.
Al Maraikhi said in his address during the ceremony on Thursday that the Baynunah Corvette Class Programme is one of the biggest warship construction programme implemented by the ADSB for the UAE Navy.
He noted that delivery of Al Hili represents an important, positive step towards self-reliance in military production.
Construction of the ship started on September 27, 2009 and it took to the water on Thursday.
The ships of this class have steel constructed hull and deck, with superstructure fabricated from aluminum. The superstructure arrangement is designed to minimise radar cross-section.
Each of the highly advanced Baynunah Class Corvettes can be deployed for various missions, including coastal patrol and survey, helicopter operations, and peacetime patrols.
The ship is designed to provide the navies with a multi-role surface vessel capable of sustained operations throughout the GCC region. The vessels are designed to conduct peacetime patrols in their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, together with surveillance, maritime interdiction, support to other forces, and the protection of coastline and ports.
It’s interesting to me to see Corvettes coming back. I always thought our navy should have looked into them more fully.
Ship looks sharp. But can the UAE’s sailors operate them?
Our Littoral Combat Ships are classed as corvettes.
Well, if they ever get to working right....
Why would you ask that? Arabs have been sailing for a very long time.
Might have a solid gold crappers and no armaments apart from a tiny gun.
LCS is classed as a Corvette?
Hmmm, I suppose I can see the reasoning for that.
As far as getting them working right? Well I really hate to say it. But a do all-be all vessel, especially one that size, is gonna have problems.
Arabs have been sailing for a long time. They just prefer to have other nationalities doing the grunt work of maintenance while they go sailing the vessel.
That works great in peacetime. In Wartime... if you can’t maintain it yourself you just might have difficulties accomplishing your missions.
Most of the UAE military is Pakis. The locals, all ‘officers’, just dress up for the National Day parades.
It does not look like they left much room for weapons...
As long as they can see the coastline lol.
” I always thought our navy should have looked into them more fully.”
When the Airforce was discussing the A-10 a general remarked words to the effect, “I don’t want anything that’s not supersonic and sexy looking.”
The navy isn’t interested in anything that isn’t big and important. I think even the destroyers have gotten rather big and “more important.”
Military procurement is probably more about prestige than capability. The Navy assigned every mission imaginable to their littoral combat ship, even those missions it is manifestly unsuited for. Ego.
Right size for the UAE, but frankly, all of this stealthy shaping on ships is crap.
Modern radars easily pick up radar cross sections 1/10th the size of this ship at 200 miles, so reducing the radar cross section by even 80% is pointless. All of that railing, the masts, the bridge, etc. are going to reflect like mad.
“Why would you ask that? Arabs have been sailing for a very long time.”
Sure they have. But with the advanced weaponry? Maybe you can sail a pretty new boat but what do you do when 1/2 dozen Exocet’s are coming your way? (I know, abandon ship, Allah Ahkbar.)
Heck—anyone with a half dozen Exocets coming is in trouble!
That ship seems kinda neat—the first picture wasn’t very flattering though.
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