NAVDEX 2025 – UAE commissions the second Gowind-class corvette and signs support contract with Naval Group
During IDEX/NAVDEX 2025 the UAE Armed Forces enforces its naval component with the commissioning of the second 2,800 tonnes Gowind-class corvette Al Emarat (P 111) and the signing of a support contract with Naval Group. The two Bani Yas-class Gowind corvettes are the largest combatant naval platforms in service with the UAE Navy and feature a comprehensive combat system
“As part of the Ministry of Defence’s ongoing efforts to enhance the national’s naval capabilities, I have commissioned the Al Emarat corvette, a state-of-the-art naval vessel designed to the highest international military specifications, marking a notable addition to the UAE Navy,” Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, said on occasion of the commissioning of the Al Emarat corvette (P 111) in the UAE Navy on 7 February.
“The vessel reflects the Navy’s commitment to strengthening its defensive operations and securing the nation’s waters. I also commend all national efforts that contributed to its design and development and remain committed to investing in cutting-edge military technologies,” he added. During the IDEX/NAVDEX 2025 Naval Group, the UAE Navy and Tawazun Council have signed an in-service support (ISS) contract covering three years of maintenance for the two Bani Yas-class corvettes.
According to the press statement released by Naval Group, as no further information were released, “The ISS contract will contribute to maintain these ships at their optimal operational level. It covers several technical stops during the next three years for the two naval platforms at the UAE Navy Base.” The dedicated in-service support will include base maintainers training, technical assistance on site with experts from Naval Group, delivery of base spare parts for the technical stops and involvement of a local shipyard.” The French shipbuilder is already working with the authorities to prepare “the next steps to increase the footprint of our support in the UAE and to bring more digitalization to such support and to the maintenance.”
Bani-Yas class corvettes details
As part of the UAE MoD contract awarded in 2019 to Naval Group and centred on the supply of two customized Gowind-class corvettes, plus training and support. The first one, Bani Yas (P 110), was launched in December 2021 and delivered in November 2023. The Al Emarat was also built in the Lorient shipyard and was launched in May 2022, to start sea trials in October 2023. After the delivery to the UAE Navy on 27th June 2024 in Lorient, the Al Emarat crew took part in the operational training in France as part of the service package solutions offered by Naval Group, before reaching the UAE, and installing the equipment being provided by local industry.
With an overall length and a beam of respectively 102 and 16 metres, and a displacement of 2,800 tonnes, the two Bai Yas-class corvettes feature an overall stealth design and propulsion plant based on a CODLOD (Combined Diesel eLectric or Diesel) configuration with two MTU 20V8000M91L 10,000 kW-each diesel engines and two electric motors by Leroy-Somer for low and silent run, with a top speed exceeding 25 knots. The ships have a crew of 65 operators and additional accommodations for up to 30 personnel, two launch and recovery stations for 7 metres RHIBs and a stern flight deck and hangar for a 10 tonnes helicopter and unmanned air vehicle. Interestingly, according to the video of the commissioning ceremony, the corvette hangar was accommodating a Garmoosha VTOL (vertical take-off landing) unmanned air vehicle provided by ADASI, part of the UAE EDGE Group.
Naval Group introduced for the first time on these vessels design the PSIM (Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module), which incorporates the integrated mast with main sensors as well as the combat information centre with the Naval Group SETIS Command Management System (CMS) and associated technical compartments.
No official information has been released on the combat system equipment, but the latest video of the commissioning event and other recent images allow to provide a better picture of the sensors and weapon systems package. EDR On-Line understood that the integrated mast incorporates a Thales Nederland NS110 3D surveillance AESA radar with IFF under the conical radome of the PSIM module, the ELT Group (Elettronica) integrated RESM and CESM suite with antenna installed on top of it, while the SPYNEL InfraRed Search & Track suite by French HGH company is centred on two turrets for passive wide-area surveillance installed on two corners of the squared PSIM. In addition to a navigation suite including Exail supplied Marins navigation systems and Netans data distribution and processing alongside two radars, the sensors package also features a Thales Nederland STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 FCS for the main gun on top of the main bridge, data link antennas for surface-to-air missiles, and a Thales anti-submarine sonar suite based on the CAPTAS 2 variable depth sonar and BlueHunter (Kingklip Mk 2) hull-mounted sonar.
The armament and self-protection package includes a 16-cell VLS for MBDA VL MICA (and future VL MICA NG) air defence missiles sided by two 12-cell lightweight launchers LOGIR (LOw-cost Guided Imaging Rocket) for both anti-surface and anti-air warfare provided by Halcon, part of EDGE, and finally a Leonardo 76/62 mm Super Rapido main gun in the Strales configuration in the bow area. The Super Rapido configuration includes a Ka-band guidance antenna system on the gun turret for the DART guided ammunitions to tackle anti-ship missile and asymmetric threats. A RAMSys 21-cell Mk 49 launcher for both RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) Block 1A and 2 multi-purpose guided missiles is installed on the helicopter hangar while two EOS R400-M remote weapon systems equipped with M230LF 30 mm gun for close-in protection are positioned on each side of the vessel. Surface-to-surface warfare is conducted with eight MBDA MM-40 Block 3 and Block 3c according to some reports Exocet anti-ship missiles in two quadruple launchers amidships while two torpedo launchers for MU90 lightweight torpedoes are reportedly installed for underwater warfare. Two Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers equipped, according to full-ship images taken from the air, with Naval Group CANTO anti-torpedo munitions ensure passive self-protection against air and underwater threats.
Photos courtesy Government of Dubai Media Office
