Baynunah-class corvette

Posted by: Andrei Dcs

Baynubah is a class of small corvettes of the United Arab Emirates Navy.

In total, six Baynubah-class corvettes were ordered by the UAE Navy.

The first ship of the class was built in France by the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN), while the rest of five were built by the Abu Dhabi Ship Building in the United Arab Emirates.

Baynubah class of corvettes is based on the Combattante BR70 vessel designed by the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, a French naval shipyard located in Cherbourg, northwestern France.

Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) naval shipyard is part of the Abu Dhabi MAR holding company, owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Replacing the Ardhana class patrol craft in the UAE Navy, Baynunah class was mainly designed for operations in the littoral zone of the UAE.

The main missions of the six corvettes in the Baynunah class are the patrol and surveillance of the United Arab Emirate's territorial waters and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Baynunah corvettes can also perform combat operations like minelaying, and the interception of enemy vessels being capable to engage in naval warfare operations and defending against incoming aerial threats.

Baynunah corvette program and unit cost

The entire program cost for building the six Baynunah-class corvettes was US$820 million as of February 2009.

Thus, the price per unit for a Baynunah class corvette is approximately $136 million.

Displacement and dimensions of the Baynubah class corvette

The Baynunah class is a relatively small class of corvettes having a displacement of 915 tons and measuring 71.3 m (234 ft) in length.

Propulsion of the Baynunah class corvettes

The propulsion of the Baynunah-class corvette consists of four MTU 12V595 TE90 diesel engines and three Kamewa Waterjets model 112S11 and 125B11.

Baynunah corvette speed and range

Baynunah corvette can reach a maximum speed of over 30 knots.

A Baynunah class ship has an endurance of 14 days and an operational range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km / 2,800 miles) at a constant speed of 15 knots (28 km/h / 17 mph).

Complement of the Baynunah class corvette

The complement of the ship consists of 37 members including officers and regular crew.

Sensors and processing systems of Baynunah corvettes

Baynunah is equipped with a Sea Giraffe AMB surveillance radar manufactured by Saab Microwave Systems.

The sensors and processing systems are completed by a Terma I-band navigation radar and a Selex Orion RTN 25 Fire Control X-band radar.

It is also fitted with an NDS 3070 Vanguard hull-mounted mine and obstacle avoidance sonar.

Armament of the Baynunah class corvettes

Despite its relatively small size, the EAU Navy's Baynunah corvettes are very well-armed.

Baynunah warships can fight in multiple combat environments being capable to perform aerial interdiction as well as anti-ship missions.

As main gun, an OTO Melara 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun equips each Baynunah ship.

Beside the OTO Merala main gun, Baynunah is also fitted with two 27 mm Rheinmetall MLG 27 guns.

Baynunah corvettes are very well equipped for aerial warfare having four Mk.56 dual-pack vertical launch systems (VLS) with eight RIM-162 ESSM missiles.

Additionally, it has an Mk. 49 mod3 21-cell RAM launcher for RAM block 1A missile system.

For anti-ship warfare, Baynunah is fitted with eight MM40 block 3 Exocet missiles manufactured by MBDA.

Aviation facilities aboard the Baynunah corvettes

One helicopter can be operated onboard the Baynunah class, the corvette having a helicopter deck and a hangar.