The first warship model fully manufactured by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) "Baynunah" – is, today, kick-starting the ‘Ship of the Day’ series taking place this week as part of the third edition of NAVDEX, the maritime security show that has quickly become the largest naval defence exhibition in the region, alongside IDEX – the world’s leading joint defence exhibition. The name of the ship on display this year is called “Al Dhafra”.
The Baynunah class are corvettes built for the United Arab Emirates Navy is named after the Baynunah region in Abu Dhabi. The first type was built in France in 2004, however the UAE Ministry of Defence commissioned an upgraded vessel to be built in Abu Dhabi, to form the backbone of the UAE Navy.
Baynunah was the first warship of this model and size to be fully manufactured, not just in the UAE but across the Arab World. The warship embodies the vision realized by the UAE Ministry of Defence and Navy in the new millennium to innovate and evolve the Nation’s knowledge and skills development in the feat of building modern warships and other vessels. The Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding Company (ADSB) was selected as the manufacturer of the new version of Baynunah military ship, rolling out the first fleet in 2011.
The steel body length of Baynunah is approximately 70 meters and 11 meters wide, with a displacement of 950 tons, as well as a hull measuring 3 meters, providing the ship with the ability to navigate shallow water. The hull and lower parts of the ship are made using both steel and aluminum components to support the required balance and the ability to reflect radar waves.
Baynunah’s modern and innovative engineering design also credited the ship with the ability to resist gale-force sea waves, and is also characterized with high flexibility and the ability to maneuver using three jet engines and four diesel engines. Elsewhere, new technologies allow for water suction and compression which is then expelled quickly through the jet channels, a design attributed to jet aircraft, as opposed to conventional ships that rely on traditional fans. Baynunah is able to reach sailing speeds of up to 32 knots to cover more than 2,400 nautical miles in one outing.
The inside of Baynunah is heavily equipped with the latest technologies to provide its crew the ability to focus on their naval duties. Generous store supplies enable the crew to stay on the high seas for many weeks. In case of any emergencies, Baynunah is also equipped with a helipad for helicopters to land and resupply vital provisions.
For military requirements, Baynunah is equipped with sophisticated weaponry, including; combat launchers, machine guns, as well as automatic and rocket propelled grenade launches. The ship also holds in-built intelligent sensors as well as a complete radar system to give Baynunah the ability to monitor its surrounding from all directions, including the depths of the sea.
Visitors to NAVDEX this week can explore first-hand the Al Dhafra ship, as well as other impressive local and international warships, moored in the ADNEC Marina for the duration of the event. Live demonstrations are also taking place, consisting of individual boat demonstrations, anti-terrorism underwater defence, and the official NAVDEX daily demonstration.
The International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) is the world’s leading joint defence exhibition. IDEX takes place biennially under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and is organized by IDEX LLC (an ADNEC Group Company) in association with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ.
This year, IDEX 2015 will feature the third edition of NAVDEX, the maritime security show that has quickly become the largest naval defence exhibition in the region, along with the first edition of UMEX, an unmanned systems technology show designed as an ideal business platform to promote and showcase the modern era of defence.
IDEX, NAVDEX & UMEX demonstrate the latest defence technologies across land, sea and air. It is a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces. In 2013 the IDEX and NAVDEX attracted 1,112 exhibiting companies and over 80,000 visitors.
IDEX 2015, welcoming Tawazun as Strategic Partner, will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), United Arab Emirates from the 22nd – 26th of February.
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