With the $877million order for six corvettes of the Baynanah class, the United Arab Emirates will within the next five years possess a modern and efficient coastal protection force. The first of the six vessels will be built in France, whilst the remainder will be constructed locally in UAE by Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding at Mussafah.
The UAE Spent $6 billion On Defense In The Last Ten Years
In recent years the armed forces of the UAE have benefited from a large-scale modernization program that started in 1997 and has so far cost 6billion US dollars. It is widely expected that by the time the modernization program is complete the amount spent on military hardware by the Middle East State will have topped $15billion. Two ex Dutch Kortenaer class frigates were purchased to beef up coastal protection, which was until 1997 reliant upon small but capable fast attack craft. Three 64 meter long landing craft (LCVP’s) were also built locally. The Air Force has acquired 32 Dassault Mirage 2000-9 multi role fighters and 30 AH-64A Apache attack helicopters. In September 2002 UAE bought five Grumman E-2C Hawkeye AEW aircraft.
When in service the Baynunah’s will replace the 33.5-meter Ardhana class-patrol boats; but will also bring with them a leap in technology. The design is based upon Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie (CMN)’s BR70 70 metre Corvette and the first vessel will be built at CMN’s shipyard at Cherbourg. The multi million-dollar contract also includes technology transfer agreements between France and the United Arab Emirates.
Crucial to the design success in littoral waters will be a shallow draft combined with an efficient deep vee hard chine hull. Power will be provided, by four 12V595 TE90 MTU diesels driving water jet propulsors –again aiding the corvettes use in shallow waters and vastly increasing their manoeuvrability.
The Baynanah Class Will Be Used For Peacekeeping And Coastal Defense
When they enter service the first of the class will be used primarily for coastal surveillance, mine laying and anti surface operations in the waters of the UAE. With a range of around 2,400 and endurance of 14 days they may well later be used to support peacekeeping operations in the region under the banner of multi-national co-operation.
Such a role was probably envisaged when the class, were being designed as they benefit greatly from the incorporation of a helicopter pad and hanger suitable for a helicopter such as an Eurocopter AS 565 Panther. Stores for the helicopter will include small anti ship missiles, torpedoes and depth charges. Eight MBDA MM40 Block 2 Exocet anti-ship missiles fitted on the superstructure amidships will enhance this anti-ship capability. For self defense, the Baynunah class will be fitted with eight Mk48 vertical launch cells for the Evolved Sea Sparrow missile and a single Oto Melera 76/62mm Super Rapide gun with a range of approximately 16 kilometers.
Electronic warfare technology will see a marked leap in capability over previous classes in service with the United Arab Emirates navy. The corvettes will have an Alenia Marconi IPN-S combat management system with the Oto Melera controlled by an AMS NA-25 control system and a Sagem Vigy EOMS infrared search and track and weapons director. Radar’s planned for the class include an EADS TRS-3D/16ES 3D surveillance radar, a Terma I-band navigational radar, whilst fire control is serviced by an AMS Orion RTN 25 X-band radar. Secure communications will be fitted that will allow the corvettes to communicate safely with maritime patrol aircraft and other naval units.
Interestingly, the UAE has managed to combine in one hull many different roles, the most notable being the use of the Baynunah class as mine warfare vessels. The flight deck can be fitted with mine laying rails, when the helicopter is not in use. A specialist mine and obstacle avoidance sonar will be installed on the hull to allow the corvettes to operate as mine hunters so that any minefields in the Gulf region could be dealt with by the Baynunah class.
