Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Abu Dhabi Awards $870M Orders For Patrol, SWAT Boats / Major UAE Navy Order For Abu Dhabi Ship Building

Abu Dhabi Awards $870M Orders For Patrol, SWAT Boats / Major UAE Navy Order For Abu Dhabi Ship Building
(NSI News Source Info) ABU DHABI - February 26, 2009: Under a contract announced by the UAE Armed Forces at IDEX 2009, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) is to build twelve new boats for the UAE Navy and retrofit twelve existing boats.
The UAE Armed Forces announced on the second day of IDEX the signing of a contract with Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding Company for supply of 12 combat vessels at a value of Dh 771.1 million and upgrading another 12 combat vessels at total cost of Dh 164.3 million.
This boat can be delivered ARTR or RTR. Boat has a fiberglass hull with an approximate length of 39 1/2". Powered by 2 x 540 motors. More details to come.
The total contract was valued at Dh 935.4 million. The 26.5m 'Fast Fighting Boats', constructed in aluminum, will be arranged in three different versions, each to fulfill different mission requirements. One will be fitted with the MBDA Marte Mk2/N Missile system, another with the Patria NEMO 120mm Mortar System, and the third version will be fitted with Rheinmetall 27mm guns.
These highly sophisticated vessels will provide considerable defensive fire power support for the UAE Naval Forces. Weapons system integration for all three different configurations of the vessel will be undertaken by Abu Dhabi Systems Integration (ADSI), a UAE joint venture company formed in 2006 by ADSB and Selex Sistemi Integrati of Italy. Designed by Swedeship Marine of Sweden, the vessels are based on the proven ADSB supplied Ghannatha class fast troop transport vessel currently in service with the UAE Naval Forces and the Critical National Infrastructure Authority.
The vessels will be propelled by twin MTU Marine Diesel engines coupled to Rolls Royce FF waterjets which will give a maximum speed of in excess of 40 knots, excellent maneuverability, and the ability to operate in extremely shallow waters.
ADSB is the region's only specialist naval and paramilitary shipbuilder. In addition to shipbuilding, ADSB has demonstrated experience in the upgrade, retrofit and repair of both military and commercial vessels and the company also offers a full range of support services to the navies, coast guards, and other marine operators in the GCC.
Rear Admiral HE Ahmed Mohammed Al Sabab Al-Tanaiji, Commander of the Naval Forces, told WAM these boats wil be delivered in four years. ''The first boat will be delivered in 18 months from now and each one every three months,'' he added.
ADSB CEO William Saltzer said: "ADSB is extremely pleased to receive this contract for building more Ghannatha class vessels and for retrofitting the existing vessels that we built previously for the UAE Navy.
"Both the new boats and the retrofit boats will be even more versatile and mission capable, building upon the great success that we achieved in producing the fast troop transport version a few years ago."

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