Fincantieri launches first-of-class corvette for Qatar
Fincantieri has launched of the first of four new multirole corvettes for the Qatari Emiri Navy (QEN).
The ‘technical launch’ of Al Zubarah took place on 27 February at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard, the Italian shipbuilder announced. The corvette will be handed over to the QEN in 2021.
Doha-class corvettes will each have a full load displacement of 3,250t, with dimensions of 107m (length), 14.7m (beam) and 4.2m (draft).
Powered by a combined diesel and diesel turbine plant, each vessel will have a maximum speed of 28kt, a range of 3,500nm at 15kt, and a complement of 112.
The multirole corvettes are designed for use as air-defence vessels, as well as for surveillance and sea rescue operations.
Armament includes 16 ASTER-30 Block 1 surface-to-air missiles; eight MM40 Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missiles; a 76mm main gun and two Marlin remote weapon stations; a 21-missile RAM launcher; and four Sylena Mk2 decoy launchers.
The vessels were ordered as part of a broader EUR4 billion ($4.67 billion) naval package awarded by Qatar to Fincantieri in June 2016.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Maritime defence in the Mediterranean faces challenges from vulnerable land power]()
Maritime defence in the Mediterranean faces challenges from vulnerable land power
As an indispensable energy crossroads, the Mediterranean is at serious risk from grey zone disruption. As navies increasingly employ AI data centres, what happens when cutting-edge defence technologies rely on the very infrastructure most susceptible to hybrid tactics?
-
![US Navy to conduct an experimentation campaign with emerging tech in 2026 and 2027]()
US Navy to conduct an experimentation campaign with emerging tech in 2026 and 2027
The Technology Operational Experimentation Events will inform future requirements as the US Navy looks for innovative solutions across three key operational domains.
-
![Future Canadian Continental Defence Corvette will provide “Halifax-equivalent capabilities”]()
Future Canadian Continental Defence Corvette will provide “Halifax-equivalent capabilities”
Although the CDC project is still in its early stages, the Canadian Department of National Defence already has some requirements for the future platforms.
-
![US Navy to acquire micro-uncrewed underwater vehicles for ISR and coastal data collection]()
US Navy to acquire micro-uncrewed underwater vehicles for ISR and coastal data collection
The Naval Supply Systems Command is seeking authorised resellers of JaiaBot uncrewed underwater vehicles and multivehicle pods. The platforms will support undergraduate education at the US Naval Academy.
