Built to a design developed by partner Swede Ship Marine, the Ghannatha-class boats are high-speed, aluminum built multi-role combat vessels. Powered by two MTU diesels driving twin Rolls-Royce FF 600 waterjets, the design is capable of speeds up to 45 knots.
ADSB won the Ghannatha Phase II contract, valued at nearly AED1 billion, in 2009. Under the deal, the company has delivered 12 new 27 meter Ghannatha boats to the UAE Navy, and retrofitted modifications to 12 existing 25 meter craft.
Six of the original vessels have been modified as mortar boats, receiving the Patria Nemo 120mm smooth-bore mortar system, plus an OTO Melara Hitrole-G 12.7mm gun mounting. These vessels have also received GEM surveillance radar and updated VHF/UHF communications.
The other six 25 meter Ghannatha boats have been modified to serve as fast gun boats, equipped with a Rheinmetall MLG 27 27mm gun and a Hitrole-G 12.7mm mounting. They also retain the capability to embark up to 40 troops.
Swede Ship Marine, as ADSB’s principal sub-contractor, took responsibility for the design modification package for the 12 ‘stretched’ new-build vessels, and built the first three in Sweden.
The nine follow-on craft have been built by ADSB at its shipyard in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah industrial area. As well as being 2m longer than the original Ghannatha design, these later ships have also received more powerful MTU 12V 2000 M93 engines.
All 12 of the later ships are configured as missile boats, being equipped with four box launchers for MBDA Marte Mk 2/N surface-to-surface guided missiles. The Marte Mk 2/N missile is able to strike targets at ranges in excess of 30km, flying a fire-and-forget sea-skimming profile using mid-course inertial guidance and active radar homing. The vessels are also fitted with a mini-combat system supplied by Selex ES and GEM radar for surveillance and target indication.
Abu Dhabi Systems Integration, ADSI, has taken responsibility for combat system engineering and integration activities for the Ghannatha Phase II program. ADSI, a joint venture between ADSB and Selex ES, has overseen combat system definition and design, production, support to installation, setting-to-work, integration, commissioning and acceptance.
