The deal for Falaj 3 missile boats is one of the largest ship deals for the Middle East and the region’s highest-value naval shipbuilding export to date. It follows the commissioning earlier this year of the first of type for UAE.
Under the contract, Edge will lead the programme which includes the design, construction, trials, and delivery of the vessels, in addition to Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) and In-Service Support (ISS).
The company will also provide the ammunition for the vessels and Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), Edge Group’s naval arm and the UAE’s leading shipbuilder, has been selected as the build subcontractor for the programme.
The Falaj 3 is a 60m offshore patrol vessel based on the Fearless-class patrol vessels built by Singapore Technologies in the 1990s. The vessel is designed for both littoral and blue water environments and has been designed with a reduced radar cross-section, infrared and acoustic signature for stealth.
The Falaj 3 has a displacement of 641t, has a beam of 9.5m and a draft of 2.6m. Powered by four engines, four propellers and four generators that produce 1.2 Megawatts of power, the vessels have a maximum speed in excess of 26kt and a range of 2000nm. The vessel also has a crew complement of 39 personnel.