Qatar Emiri Navy Receives Its Fourth And Last Al Zubarah-Class Air Defense Corvette
“Sumaysimah,”or “Semaisma,” the fourth and last of the Al Zubarah class corvettes ordered by the Qatar Ministry of Defense from Italy-based Fincantieri within the scope of the national naval procurement program, was delivered to the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) with a ceremony held at Muggiano Shipyard (La Spezia) on Tuesday, 16 May. Among those who attended the ceremony were Staff Major General (Sea) Abdullah Hassan Al-Sulaiti, Commander of Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, H.E. Khalid bin Yousef Al-Sada, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Italy, Major General Hassan Rashid Al Ali, Head of Qatar Armed Forces Projects, Staff Major General Hilal Al Muhannadi, Defense Attaché of the State of Qatar in Rome, Vice Admiral Salvatore Vitiello, Commanding Officer of Italian Navy Logistic Command and Naval Equipment Inspector, and Dario Deste, General Manager Naval Vessels Division of Fincantieri.
The latest vessel was delivered as part of a 4 billion Euro contract signed by Qatar with the Italian company for four corvettes, two offshore patrol vessels, and an amphibious transport dock. Fincantieri delivered the first corvette of its class to the Qatar Emiri Navy on October 28, 2021, the second corvette of its class, “Damsah,” on April 28, 2022, and the third corvette of its class, “Al Khor,” on December 22, 2022. The first Musherib Class OPV was delivered to Qatar in January 2022, and the second on July 7, 2022. The “AL FULK” Landing Platform Dock (LPD) is planned to be delivered to the Qatari Navy by the end of this year after being launched at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyards on January 24, 2023. The contract also includes a 15-year comprehensive technical support and maintenance guarantee for the ships after they are delivered to Qatar.
According to Fincantieri, the Qatar Navy’s Al Zubarah class corvettes have a full load displacement of 3,250 tons, a length of 107 meters, a width of 14.70 meters, and a draft of 4.20 meters. Thanks to a CODAD type propulsion system with two diesel engines and a single propeller shaft, the corvettes have a top speed of 28 knots and a range of 3,500 nautical miles (at 15 knots). The corvette has a crew capacity of 98 personnel and also allows for 14 additional personnel to be deployed on the vessel. The new platform offers a sophisticated and robust combat system with a wide range of weapons for air defense warfare and surface defense warfare, according to the company.
The corvette is armed with a 76/62 Multi-Feeding Super Rapid main gun and a 16-cell vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles. The corvette also has two 4-cell launchers for the MM40 Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missile, as well as self-defense weapons and torpedo countermeasures. Furthermore, the corvettes will be able to operate high-speed boats like RHIBs (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats) via lateral cranes or a hauling ramp positioned at the stern. The flight deck and hangar are designed to accommodate one NH90 helicopter.