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
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies]()
US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies
The programme’s structure as a marketplace will allow multiple companies to compete for ongoing procurements; an approach which could be replicated across the Atlantic.
-
![Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress]()
Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress
Lawmakers question the US Navy’s proposed $2 billion investment in the Trump-class battleship as concerns over cost, technology maturity and operational relevance fuel growing bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
-
![Germany sinks F126 frigate programme in favour of cheaper MEKO A-200]()
Germany sinks F126 frigate programme in favour of cheaper MEKO A-200
On 24 June 2026, the German Ministry of Defence announced it was cancelling the F126 frigate programme in favour of procuring eight MEKO A-200 DEU frigates.
-
![UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition]()
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
