Falaj 2-class patrol vessel

The Falaj 2 class are patrol boats of the United Arab Emirates Navy classified as stealth inshore patrol vessels (IPVs).^[1]

Class overview
Builders	Fincantieri
Operators	United Arab Emirates Navy
Planned	4
Completed	2
General characteristics
Type	Patrol boat
Displacement	550 tonnes
Length	55.7 m (182 ft 9 in)
Beam	8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
Draught	2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	2 × MTU diesels 16V 4000 M90 (2,720 kW each), 4 × Isotta Fraschini generators
Speed	>20 knots
Complement	28 officers and crew
Sensors & processing systems	command and control system IPN-S (SELEX Sistemi Integrati) radar/electro-optical FCS NA-30S (SELEX Sistemi Integrati) 3D multifunction radar KRONOS 3D NV (SELEX Sistemi Integrati) secondary radar SIR-M (SELEX Sistemi Integrati) electro-optical director Medusa MK4B
Electronic warfare & decoys	2 × self-defence decoy system MASS (Multi Ammunition Soft-kill System) (Rheinmetall) 1 × Seal-L electronic warfare system (Elettronica)
Armament	1 × OTO Melara 76 mm/62 super rapido stealth mount 2 × twin launcher MBDA MM40 block 3 Exocet missiles 2 × trio vertical launch units MBDA VL MICA SAM 2 ×  12.7 mm machine guns OTO Melara Hitrole-G (remotized)

Description

The Falaj 2 class is based on the Italian Diciotti-class offshore patrol vessel, in use with the Italian Coast Guard. The Diciotti class is based itself on the earlier experimental Saettia class, a missile attack boat demonstrator designed and built by Fincantieri.^[2] The specifications require a highly flexible and versatile vessel to carry out a wide range of missions, from patrol and surveillance operations over attacks against both targets at sea and on land in national and international scenarios up to self-defence against threats from the air or surface. A special feature of the vessels is their particular stealth geometry to ensure their reduced radar detect ability.

History

The contract for Falaj 2-class vessels was signed 2009,^[1] according to other sources 2010. It included the option for two more vessels to be built by Etihad Ship Building, a newly established joint venture based in Abu Dhabi between Fincantieri of Italy and the local firms Melara Middle East and Al Fattan Ship Industry.^[3] The technology transfer is part of the order.

In May 2021 it was announced that Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) was assigned with the building of four Falaj-3 offshore patrol vessels for the UAE navy, highly flexible and versatile OPV planned to perform a wide range of missions.^[4][5]

Ships

Number	Pennant no	Name	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Fleet	Home port	Status
1	P251	Ganthoot	La Spezia	25 January 2012[6]	8 January 2013	unknown	unknown	In Service
2	P252	Salahah	La Spezia	8 June 2012[7]	22 April 2013	unknown	unknown	In Service

Variants

At the beginning of June 2020, there were media reports in context of the sale of the two Bergamini-class FREMM frigates Spartaco Schergat and Emilio Bianchi to Egypt, according to which Egypt is also to receive 20 patrol boats modelled on the Falaj-2 class as part of a large package.^[8][9]