UAE navy takes delivery of third corvette

Abu Dhabi, Dec 24 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates Navy has taken delivery of the third Corvette (Al Dhafra) from Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding Company, the leading shipbuilder and naval support services provider in the Gulf region.

The vessel, part of the six Corvette Class Programme for the UAE Navy, was delivered in a grand ceremony Tuesday.

Vice Admiral Ibrahim Salem Al Mushrekh, commander of the navy, signed the delivery paper of the Al Dhafra and then took a tour of the vessel and raised the UAE flag on it.

The warships are a unique class of vessels with multi-mission capabilities, including coastal patrol and surveillance, mine detection and avoidance, helicopter operations, as well as anti-air and anti-surface capabilities.

It is the biggest warship construction programme in the region consisting of six state-of-the-art warships for the UAE navy. Each of the 72-metre highly-advanced ships can be deployed for various missions.

The key features of the warships include a stealth-like superstructure, a helicopter landing deck and a hangar. They will also be fitted with anti-ship missiles, air-defence missiles, 3D surveillance, navigation and fire control radars and a multivendor electronic warfare suite.

--IANS/WAM

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