Baynunah Class Multipurpose Missile Corvette, United Arab Emirates
In January 2004, the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defence in Abu Dhabi awarded a contract to Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding for a new class of multipurpose missile corvette, the Baynunah class. The contract is for four corvettes with option on a further two.
"The main roles of the corvettes will be in patrol and surveillance, minelaying, interception and other anti-surface warfare operations."The Baynunah program is a successor to the LEWA 1 program to replace the six 175t full displacement, 33.5m Ardhana class large patrol class.
The corvettes are named after the Baynunah region of Abu Dhabi. Construction of the first vessel began in May 2005 for launch in mid 2008 and commission in 2010.
In July 2005, the UAE exercised the contract option for a further two vessels to bring the total to six ships of the class.
Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding is the prime contractor. Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie (CMN) of Cherbourg, France, is a major contractor. The build of the first corvette, to launch in 2006, is taking place at CMN's shipyard in Cherbourg. The program includes a technology transfer arrangement between CMN and ADSB. The CMN subsidiary, CMN Divisions Systemes, will carry out the combat system integration in France.
The remaining corvettes are to be built at the ADSB shipyard at Mussafah in Abu Dhabi. Keel for the first locally built vessel was laid in July 2006 and it is scheduled for launch in 2009 and commission in 2011.
The 175,000m² shipyard has two 2,720m² construction halls equipped with overhead cranes. The shipyard facilities also include two shiplift piers for berthing and repair of ships up to 85m in length, three 1,700m² dry berths, a 70m quay wall and 320m of wet berthing
The main roles of the corvettes will be in patrol and surveillance, minelaying, interception and other anti-surface warfare operations in the United Arab Emirate's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
BAYNUNAH CORVETTE DESIGN
The design of the corvette is being be carried out jointly by CMN and ADSB and is a derivative of CMN's BR70 70m corvette design with a deep Vee hard chine hull. A low draught allows the corvette to operate in shallow waters. Emphasis is directed to good seakeeping characteristics and manoeuvrability.
The light corvettes are substantially larger than the New Generation Combattante I, the Um Almaradim Class patrol vessels supplied to Kuwait from 1998 to 2000. The Baynunah corvettes incorporate a stealthy superstructure, a helicopter landing deck and a hangar.
BAYNUNAH WEAPON SYSTEMS
In July 2004, Alenia Marconi Systems, now Selex Sistemi Integrati, was awarded a contract to supply the IPN-S command and control system and the NA-25XM fire control system for the main gun. Selex is also responsible for integration of weapons and sensors into the combat system. The Baynunah vessels will also be fitted with the Sagem Vigy EOMS infrared search and track and weapons director.
"The corvette's main gun is the Oto Melara 76/62mm Super Rapide - capable of firing 6kg shells at 120 rounds a minute."The corvette's anti-ship missile system comprises eight MBDA MM40 block 3 Exocet missiles. The block 3 missile has a new turbojet propulsion system that extends the effective range from 70km to 180km. It has new inertial / GPS guidance along with an advanced J-band active terminal seeker.
The sea-skimming Exocet missiles approach the target at high subsonic speed, Mach 0.9, to deliver a 165kg warhead. The Exocet is also deployed on the United Arab Emirates Muray Jib class corvettes, Ban Yas class and Mubarraz class fast attack missile craft.
The corvette will be fitted with four Raytheon MK56 eight-cell vertical launchers for the ESSM. ESSM gives surface-to-air capability to protect against fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms.
In September 2007, the UAE placed an order with Raytheon for 32 ESSM missiles, to be delivered by 2010. This was in addition to the Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) system for close-in air defence, ordered in December 2006 to equip the Baynunah Class.
One mk49 mod3 21-cell RAM launcher for the RAM block 1A missile system will be fitted on top of the hangar roof. The installation will require a number of design modifications. The systems are to be installed by 2011. RAM has radio frequency / infrared dual-mode guidance and a range of 8km. The block 1 missile has a new image scanning infrared seeker.
The corvette's main gun is the Oto Melara 76/62mm Super Rapide, capable of firing 6kg shells at a rate of 120 rounds per minute to a maximum range of 16km. Two Oto Melara 30mm guns will also be fitted.
MINE LAYING, DETECTION, AVOIDANCE AND DISPOSAL CAPABILITIES
The corvette design includes capacity for the future installation of mine warfare systems. The corvette is capable of deploying a full range of mine-laying, mine detection, avoidance and disposal systems to suit the operational requirements of the United Arab Emirate's Navy.
The layout of the flight deck allows the installation of mine rails for mine laying. The combat management system includes minefield planning software.
The NDS 3070 Vanguard hull-mounted mine and obstacle avoidance sonar, from L-3 ELAC Nautik, will be installed and a remotely operated vehicle for detection, location and disposal of mines may also be fitted.
HELICOPTER DECK
The Baynunah corvette has a stern helicopter deck with a single landing spot for a medium-sized helicopter such as the AS 565. The United Arab Emirates operate seven Eurocopter AS 565 Panther anti-surface helicopters. The corvette has a fully equipped hangar.
SURVEILLANCE, NAVIGATION AND FIRE CONTROL RADAR
The Baynunah corvettes are fitted with a Saab Microwave Systems (formerly Ericsson) Sea Giraffe AMB (Agile Multiple Beam) three dimensional surveillance radar and a Terma I-band navigation radar. Fire control radar for the NA-25 is the Selex Orion RTN 25 X-band radar.
NAVAL COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEMS
The electronic warfare suite includes an NLWS310 laser warning system from Saab Avitronics of South Africa, an Elettronica SLR-736E radar electronic support measures system (ESM) and a Thales Altesse communications ESM.
"The Baynunah corvette has a stern helicopter deck with a single landing spot for a medium-sized helicopter."The MASS decoy system, supplied by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition (formerly Buck Neue Technologien), will be installed, one to port and one to the starboard side. MASS can launch up to 32 Omni-Trap spin-stabilised omni-spectral projectiles in a time-staggered configuration against anti-ship missiles and guided projectiles.
The MASS decoy covers radar, infrared, electro-optic, laser and ultraviolet wavebands.
SECURE NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS
The corvettes have secure voice and data communications, including Link 11 and Link Y Mark 2, with the fleet, land based command and control centres and with the CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft.
WATER JET PROPULSERS
Four diesel engines type 12V595 TE90 from MTU are each rated at 4.2MW. The corvettes have water jet propulsers giving high manoeuvrability. The cruise and maximum speeds are 15 knots and over 32 knots. The range is over 2,400nm. The corvette carries water, stores and fuel for an endurance of 14 days.
Naval Technology - Baynunah Class Multipurpose Missile Corvette
I think PN should also look at these corvettes. These are being built for UAE navy and have decent firepower.
Regards,
