Streit Marine's AB-850 airboat seen at the NAVDEX 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February. (Janes/Anish Markose)
UAE defence manufacturer Streit Marine unveiled an armoured airboat for shallow access missions at the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February.
Speaking to Janes, a spokesperson for Streit Marine said the boat is designed to carry out missions in places where conventional boats cannot.
With a length of 8.43 m and a width of 3.1 m, the boat's flat bottom, low draught, and air propulsion enable it to navigate through shallow water without fear of the propeller getting stuck or entangled in things such as debris or vegetation frequently found in shallow waters.
The boat is propelled by a 650 hp petrol engine kept in a raised position behind the bridge. The engine drives a four-bladed carbon fibre propeller. Direction is controlled by three sets of rudders placed within the airflow. The AB-850 has a maximum speed of 35 kt and a range of 150 n miles at a cruising speed of 30 kt. The boat is manned by a crew of four.
The AB-850 has a Furuno I-band radar for search and navigation, a digital control console inside the bridge, and a 12.7 mm machine gun as a standard fit with an additional three gun points.
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