On December 23, 2024, Turkish shipbuilder Dearsan Shipyard hosted a keel-laying ceremony in Istanbul to mark the construction of two FAC 50 missile-equipped Fast Attack Craft (FAC) for the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces (QENF). The ceremony was attended by a Qatari delegation led by Major General Abdullah Hassan Al Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatar Navy.
Dearsan secured the contract for these vessels on June 21, 2023, during a signing event in Doha. Construction began on February 12, 2024, following the successful completion of the Critical Design Assessment process, which benefited from the expertise of the Project Control Office.
These 50.76-meter-long boats, with a width of 9.53 meters and a draft of 2.10 meters, boast a maximum speed of 36 knots and a range of 1,000 nautical miles. Designed to operate in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea, the vessels are equipped for surface warfare with guided missiles and a 40 mm cannon, air defense with anti-air guided missiles, asymmetric combat with stabilized and manual machine guns, and electronic warfare through an advanced support system.
Secondary missions include patrolling, protecting territorial waters, combating piracy, preventing arms and drug trafficking, conducting surveillance, and performing search and rescue operations. The project’s design evaluations were completed earlier in 2024, showcasing advanced technology that will significantly strengthen the operational capabilities of the Qatar Navy.
Be the first to comment