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.
Forming part of the Reconciliation Bill, the funding will support multiple efforts involving autonomous capabilities, interceptors, missiles, rockets and torpedoes.
The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
The nearly $25 billion investment will cover USCG procurement of cutters, aircraft, helicopters, training simulators and Polar capabilities over the next four years.
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
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