“Dearsan Unveils Twin Agile Warships to Bolster Qatar’s Maritime Dominance”
On December 23, 2024, the Turkish shipbuilding establishment Dearsan conducted a keel-laying ceremony in Istanbul to celebrate the construction of two FAC 50 missile-equipped Fast Attack Craft (FAC) intended for the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces (QENF). This significant occasion was attended by a Qatari delegation led by Major General Abdullah Hassan Al Sulaiti, the Commander of the Qatar Navy.
Dearsan secured the contract for these vessels on June 21, 2023, during an official signing event in Doha. The fabrication commenced on February 12, 2024, post the successful completion of the Critical Design Assessment (CDA) process, which utilized insights from the Project Control Office.
These crafts, spanning 50.76 meters in length, with a width of 9.53 meters and a draft depth of 2.10 meters, achieve a maximum speed of 36 knots and a range of 1,000 nautical miles. Designed for missions in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea, the vessels are equipped for surface engagements with guided missiles and a 40 mm cannon. They also possess anti-air capabilities supported by guided missiles, asymmetrical warfare features with stabilized and manual machine guns, and electronic warfare facilitated by an innovative support system.
Additional functionalities encompass patrolling, securing national waters, combating piracy, preventing arms and drug smuggling, conducting surveillance, and performing search and rescue operations. The design evaluations for this project were concluded earlier in 2024, showcasing advanced technology that will significantly boost the operational proficiency of the Qatar Navy.
