ADSB Details Progress on Naval Programs at Indo Defence

At the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition in Jakarta, Naval News interviewed Abdelrahman AlRousi, Director of Business Development at Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding (ADSB), a subsidiary of the UAE-based Edge Group. The discussion centered on ADSB’s recent defense export activities and ongoing shipbuilding programs, including a landmark contract with Kuwait.

The company signed a major contract with Kuwait to supply eight Falaj-3 class corvettes, marking ADSB’s largest-ever export deal. Valued at approximately USD 2.45 billion, the contract positions Edge Group as the prime contractor, with ADSB responsible for the construction of all vessels and the integration of onboard weapons and sensors, according to AlRousi. The design of the Falaj-3 is provided by Singapore’s ST Engineering, but all eight ships will be built domestically at ADSB‘s facilities in the UAE.

The first Falaj-3 class vessel was officially commissioned by the UAE Navy earlier this year during NAVDEX 2025, and the same platform is now being exported under the Kuwaiti contract. While the delivery timeline of the ships remains undisclosed, this program is viewed as a significant milestone in UAE’s growing shipbuilding and defense export capabilities.

Other Naval Projects

In addition to the Kuwaiti program, AlRousi provided updates on the BR71 Mk II corvette project for the Angolan Navy, stating that the project is moving forward as scheduled. Two vessels are currently under construction—one in Abu Dhabi and the other at CMN Shipyard in France, a partner in the program. These ships represent a continuation of Edge Group’s broader strategy to position itself in emerging naval markets, especially in Africa.

Beyond military exports, ADSB is also diversifying into civilian and dual-use vessel construction. One such example is a 16-meter ambulance vessel, designed for multipurpose use in both military and civilian contexts. Additionally, the company is developing a 23-meter hospital vessel, intended to provide medical services in coastal and island regions, particularly during humanitarian crises or natural disasters.

The interview also touched on unmanned surface vessel (USV) developments under the Edge Group’s portfolio. ADSB has developed a 170M Detector USV, which has been showcased through live demonstrations at NAVDEX in both 2023 and 2025. The platform is tailored for mine countermeasure (MCM) missions and is equipped with payloads developed by Exail, a French company specializing in unmanned maritime systems. The autonomous control system of the USV is developed by Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Discussions are currently underway between ADSB and local and international clients regarding the procurement of the 170M Detector USV.

Moreover, ADSB is working on a scaled-down variant of the 170M Detector, aimed at deployment aboard larger motherships. The conceptual design for this smaller USV has been finalized, and construction will begin if procurement contracts are secured.

These developments collectively demonstrate ADSB’s efforts to expand its footprint not only in traditional naval platforms but also in unmanned and humanitarian maritime solutions. The company’s growing international portfolio, including high-value exports and ongoing vessel diversification, indicates an increasingly strategic role for the UAE in the global shipbuilding sector.

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