The first-of-class Swift Trooper-class fast amphibious boat, Al Fares, commissioned into the UAE Navy in February 2025, seen here in Abu Dhabi. (Janes/Anish Markose)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Naval Forces commissioned Rabdan (L207) as a first-of-class fast amphibious boat at the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February.
A senior UAE Navy official told Janes that under its Al Faris-class project, the Rabdan, based on UAE shipbuilder Al Fattan's Swift Trooper-class vessels, is the first of 20 such vessels ordered.
Made of fibre-reinforced plastic, the Swift Trooper-class vessels are 20 m long with a 4.30 m beam. The draught of the ship is kept low at 1 m to carry out beaching operations. The purpose of the vessel is to transport personnel and equipment and provide logistical support to units at sea. A total of 16 troops can be carried onboard.
Rabdan is powered by two CAT C18 Advance Combustion Emission Reduction Technology (ACERT) inboard marine diesel engines providing an output of 1,136 hp each, driving two HamiltonJet HTX42 water-jets. It has a maximum speed of 40 kt and travels at around 32 kt at full load. It has a range of 300 n miles at 30 kt, according to Al Fattan. In addition, the vessel has a Zodiac Milpro SF450 powered by a 60 hp Mercury SeaPro outboard engine.
Rabdan
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