Fincantieri Delivers Air Defense LPD “Al-Fulk” to Qatar

Fincantieri news release

The event occurred today at the Muggiano shipyard (La Spezia) and notes the conclusion of a substantial marine program for the Qatari Navy, which likewise consisted of the shipment of 4 “Al Zubarah-class” corvettes and 2 “Musherib-class” Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs).

The occasion was gone to, to name a few, by the Leader of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, Personnel Major General Abdulla Container Hassan Al Sulaiti, and the Supervisor of Italian Navy Armed Force Employee Directorate, Vice Admiral Andrea Gueglio, invited by Fincantieri’s chief executive officer and General Supervisor, Pierroberto Folgiero, and by the General Supervisor of the Naval Vessels Department, Dario Deste.

“ Al Fulk“, developed at the Team’s lawns in Palermo and Muggiano, is created according to RINAMIL criteria, which control the category of marine vessels, making sure remarkable efficiency in air, sea, and land procedures. Its functional layout enables the vessel to carry out a series of objectives, from altruistic help to protection procedures and assistance for ground pressures.

The vessel is roughly 143 meters long and 21.5 meters large, and it can fit as much as 550 individuals aboard. It is geared up with a big trip deck that can organize NH90 helicopters, a large garage with 2 automobile ramps, and a floodable interior dock with the ability of releasing touchdown craft.

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Regarding LPD Al Fulk

The primary goal of the vessel will certainly be air protection. It will certainly operate in combination with the Al Zubarah-class air protection corvettes and share lengthy variety air photo with them. The LPD will certainly be fitted with a Kronos multifunction radar (comparable to the one fitted on the corvettes) in addition to a brand-new L-Band radar by Leonardo referred to as Kronos Power Guard. Naval Information recognizes this radar was as well huge to be fitted on the corvette, this is why this service (corvette + LPD) was suggested to fit the distinct demand of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.

The vessel was launched on January 24, 2023, in Palermo.

One more distinct function of this LPD is the truth it is fitted with 2 8-cell VLS Sylver A50 for medium-range surface-to-air projectile system which MBDA has actually suggested as the Aster 30 Block 1 artilleries as component of the SAAM-ESD air-defence system. Although Fincantieri hasn’t launched info or commented the AAW capacities of the LPD, the mix of the MBDA SAAM-ESD with Aster 30 Block 1 projectile system, the Leonardo Kronos AESA multifunction radar and the early-detection info from the Kronos Power Guard, completely can offer tactical ballistic rockets protection as likewise provided by the ground-based SAMP/T however with boosted capacities, Naval Information comprehended.

The ships will certainly be fitted with the Sylena MK2 decoy releasing systems by Lacroix.

For the document, a worldwide order worth 5 billion euros (consisting of 1 billion for rockets) was revealed in August 2017. Along with 4 air protection corvettes, the agreement consists of the building of 2 OPV/FACM kind ships based upon the Falaj 2-class (chosen by the UAE Navy) and an air protection LPD (fitted with lengthy variety L-band radar and ASTER 30 SAM) based upon the “BDSL Kalaat Beni Abbes” (143 meters long, 9,000 tonnes variation), which was supplied in 2015 by Fincantieri to Algeria.

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