Dearsan signed a contract with the Qatar Armed Forces on June 21, 2023, in Doha for the construction of two 50-meter missile-equipped Fast Attack Craft.
The work under the contract started on February 12, 2024, and the Critical Design Assessment process for the Qatar Navy’s two 50-meter Fast Attack Craft Project was successfully completed last month with valuable contributions from the Project Control Office personnel.
At the current stage, the “Keel Laying Ceremony” for the two 50-meter Fast Attack Craft, being built at Dearsan Shipyard for the Qatar Navy, was held at Dearsan Shipyard on December 23, 2024, at 11:00 am with the participation of the Qatar State Delegation led by Major General Abdullah Hassan Al Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatar Navy.
The boats, measuring 50.76 meters in length, 9.53 meters in width, with a 2.10-meter draft, a maximum speed of 36 knots, and a range of 1,000 nautical miles, are designed to operate effectively in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea.
The primary missions of the FAC 50 include:
- Surface warfare with guided missiles and a 40 mm cannon,
- Air defense warfare with anti-air guided missiles,
- Asymmetric warfare with 12.7 mm stabilized and manual machine guns,
- Electronic warfare with an Electronic Support System in areas around Qatar and the Persian Gulf.
Secondary missions include patrolling, territorial waters protection, combating piracy, arms and drug trafficking, surveillance, and search and rescue operations in inland and coastal areas.
The Preliminary Design Evaluation process was completed on July 3, 2024, and the Critical Design Evaluation phase was finalized on November 28, 2024.
The DEARSAN-designed Qatar 50-meter Fast Attack Craft Project represents advanced technology vessels that will significantly enhance the naval capabilities of the Qatar Navy.
The FAC50 is a 43-meter fast attack craft with a beam of 9.2 meters and a draught of 2 meters. Although the original model is 50 meters long, it has been specifically configured to meet the requirements of the QENF. While the original design displaces around 320 tonnes, the boat for the QENF is still undergoing calculations during the design phase. The hull of the boat is constructed from steel, while the superstructure is made of aluminum.
Equipped with indigenous weapons and sensors, the only exception being Leonardo’s 40 mm gun, the FAC50 will be armed with Roketsan-made ÇAKIR missiles for anti-surface warfare and Sungur missiles for Anti-Air Warfare. Additionally, it will feature 2 Aselsan-STAMP remote weapon stations and two 12.7 man-operated machine guns.
The sensor suite comprises Aselsan-made MAR-D surface and air surveillance radar, low probability of intercept (LPI) navigation radar, electro-optical sensor, and an electronic support system.
The Dearsan FAC50’s propulsion system includes 3 diesel engines and 3 waterjets, providing a speed of 36+ knots to the boat.
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