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
-
![First Canadian Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker is “on track” for keel laying in late 2026]()
First Canadian Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker is “on track” for keel laying in late 2026
Canadian Coast Guard Ship Arpatuuq construction is in the block manufacturing phase. Once built, it will be the largest vessel in the Coast Guard’s inventory.
-
![US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship]()
US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship
NAVSEA plans to select up to three suppliers for the concept design phase of the programme in Q2 FY2026.
-
![South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch]()
South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch
Hanwha Ocean’s Jang Yeong-sil is the Republic of Korea Navy’s first 3,600t submarine and is the first of three boats in the military’s KSS-III programme.
-
![ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth]()
ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth
The company could be looking to collaborate with other Asian nations as well as countries further afield as it pushes ahead with its shipyard expansion plans.
-
![US Navy approaches the award of a follow-on contract for Aegis production]()
US Navy approaches the award of a follow-on contract for Aegis production
Naval Sea Systems Command intends to grant a production agreement for the Aegis Weapon System covering the FY2026-FY2030 period.
