Fincantieri Unveils the Beginnings of Qatar’s Next-Gen Air Defense Vessel
(naval updates)
The keel laying of the amphibious vessel (LPD – Landing Platform Dock) commissioned to Fincantieri by the Qatari Ministry of Defence as part of the national naval procurement initiative, occurred at the Palermo shipyard.
The event, conducted in a limited format and in strict adherence to health safety protocols, was graced by Brig. Ahmad Al Hammadi, head of the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces Project Control Office in Italy, along with Marcello Giordano and Umberto Aloi, who serve as Fincantieri Palermo shipyard Director and Vice President of Export Programs, respectively.
The LPD is crafted following the RINAMIL (rules for naval ship classification) standards to guarantee exceptionally effective land-air-sea integrations. It will exhibit high adaptability and is equipped to undertake various missions, ranging from humanitarian assistance to supporting the Armed Forces and land operations.
The vessel will measure approximately 143 meters in length and 21.5 meters in width, with a capacity to accommodate around 550 personnel on board. It will feature dual vehicle ramps and an internal floodable dock designed for a ready-to-launch LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized), which can also be stored on the garage deck and deployed through a davit system. Additionally, the flight deck is adequately sized to host the NH90 helicopter.
According to Naval News, the primary mission of this vessel will center on air defense. It will operate in tandem with the Al Zubarah-class air defense corvettes and exchange long-range aerial surveillance data with them.
The source noted that the LPD will be equipped with a Kronos multifunction radar (similar to that found on the corvettes) alongside a new L-Band radar developed by Leonardo, referred to as Kronos Power Shield. Naval News clarifies that this radar was too large to be installed on the corvette, which prompted the proposition of this solution (corvette + LPD) to meet the distinctive needs of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces.
