Major General Abdullah Hassan Al Sulaiti, commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, making the first ceremonial welding of the QENF's two 50 m missile attack craft. (Cem Devrim Yaylali)
Istanbul shipyard Dearsan has held a keel-laying ceremony for two 50 m missile attack craft (MAC) for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF).
The event on 23 December was attended by a delegation led by Major General Abdullah Hassan Al Sulaiti, commander of the QENF.
The MACs – with an overall length of 50.76 m, a beam of 9.53 m, and a draught of 2.10 m – are designed for a top speed of 36 kt and a range of 1,000 n miles. They are armed with four Çakır cruise missiles and launchers for Sungur air-defence missiles. The main gun is a Leonardo Marlin 40 mm, while close defence is provided by two Aselsan Stamp-2 12.7 mm Remote-Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWSs) and two manually operated 12.7 mm machine guns.
For sensors, the MACs feature the Aselsan Mar-D as the primary search radar, supplemented by the Alper low probability of intercept (LPI) radar and Kelvin Hughes SharpEye radar for navigation. Fire control is supported by the Aselsan Ahtapot-S electro-optical system. In addition, the vessels are equipped with Aselsan ARES 2NC electronic support systems for electronic warfare.
The primary missions of the vessels include surface warfare and air defence. They are also intended for secondary roles such as patrolling and protecting territorial waters, preventing piracy, combating arms and drug smuggling, conducting surveillance, and supporting search-and-rescue operations in coastal and inshore areas.
The preliminary design evaluation for the project was completed on 3 July while the Critical Design Review phase was finalised on 28 November.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
