Finmeccanica, through its companies SELEX Sistemi Integrati, OTO Melara and WASS, has been selected by the United Arab Emirates Navy to supply it with naval and underwater systems for a new Abu Dhabi class ship.

The platform for the ship will be built by Fincantieri. The total value of the contract is around 45 million euro.

SELEX Sistemi Integrati will provide an IPN-S command and control system, an NA 30S firing control system, a KRONOS 3D radar system, a SIR-M secondary radar and a Medusa MK4B electro-optical system, with a total value of 15 million euro. The company will also be responsible for the functional integration of the combat system.

A key element of the contract is the KRONOS multi-role solid-state 3D radar, designed and developed completely by SELEX Sistemi Integrati based on its experience with EMPAR, the naval radar systems used by the Italian Navy and other foreign clients. The decision by the United Arab Emirates to pick KRONOS represents a great international sales success for this type of radar, which has many competitive advantages over its rivals in the same class.

OTO Melara will supply two 30-mm Marlin Weapons Stations, worth 2 million euro, and a stealth version of the Super Rapid 76/62 naval gun.

As the prime contractor, WASS, in partnership with Thales Underwater Systems, will build an ASW (Anti-Submarine-Warfare) system worth around 27 million euro.

SELEX Sistemi Integrati is also present in the United Arab Emirates via the joint venture ADSI (Abu Dhabi Systems Integration), which was set up in 2005 in partnership with the local company ADSB (Abu Dhabi Ship Building) and operates in the fields of defence and homeland security.

SELEX Sistemi Integrati is working on the integration of the combat system for Ghannatha class ships and is also manufacturing the combat system for six Baynunah class corvettes for the United Arab Emirates Navy.