Anchors away!

By Robert Lowry Abu Dhabi

The United Arab Emirates clearly intends to strengthen its naval capability. With major deals already underway for the other services - new F-16s and Mirage upgrades for the air force and Leclerc main battle tanks for the army - the UAE navy not only will receive new equipment, but will also have access to improved domestic maintenance and construction facilities.
The UAE's interest in acquiring a submarine capability and developing its surface fleet are further indications that the UAE plans to develop its naval role beyond coastal defense and the need to patrol territorial waters.

However, the main constraint on naval expansion seems to have more to do with the limited availability of trained manpower than the funds in the Abu Dhabi government's coffers.
Speaking at the IDEX defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi in March, Germany's deputy defense minister, Walter Kolbow, said that Germany was hoping to sell submarines to the UAE.

Balance. The UAE has reportedly looked into the Type 206 class of submarine built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG. This would give the UAE a torpedo and mine-laying capability that might act as a potential counterbalance to Iran's three Kilo-class submarines.

The UAE armed forces are also expected to be taking delivery of mini-submarines designed for covert operations. The Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Marine Technologies (EMT) has produced Class 4 and Class 5 Swimmer Delivery Vehicles (SDV) that can travel at six knots and have a range of 60 nautical miles. The two-man mini-subs are based on similar American systems, but are slower. The "wet" submarines have built-in breathing systems that enable the divers to remain submerged for long periods, and they are said to have a low acoustic signature that will make detection more difficult.

EMT said at IDEX that it was soon expecting to sign a deal to provide the UAE armed forces with SDVs as well as its high-speed 15-meter Hurricane boats that can reach 70 knots. EMT imports a number of components and combines this with its own technology for its systems. Sources also told Arabies TRENDS that the company had been given permission to export the SDVs to other countries - it is very probable that this will initially be limited to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. The source also said that EMT, which was established in 1991, plans to expand by 2003. There are also plans to develop training courses.

Another major naval deal announced at IDEX is the UAE's Project Baynunah. This involves the design and construction of six new 60-meter missile patrol boats. A value was not given for the deal, but Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) company officials have previously said they are hoping to sell up to 12 missile patrol boats worth $500 million.

ADSB is the prime contractor and main shipbuilder for the project. The Baynunah vessels will be constructed from designs by the French company Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN), which will also provide technology transfer among other services. The contract details are to be finalized during 2001, and will be a multinational affair. Sweden's Bofors said it is soon to bring its 40Mk3 and 57Mk3 naval guns for testing by the UAE navy for their air defense and main armament capability. The 57Mk 3 has stealth qualities. Italy's 76mm system from Otobreda is also competing for the main gun. The anti-ship missile contract is being contested by the Harpoon from the US Boeing company and the MM 40 Exocet missile from France's Aerospatiale Matra Missiles; the air defense missile competition is between Raytheon RAM and MBD/MSI Sigma. The three-dimensional surveillance radar is being contested by the TRS-3D of EADS Defence Electronics, Ericsson Microwave Systems' Sea Giraffe and Thales' MRR.

To date, ADSB has been involved in constructing new commercial vessels, supporting the oil industry and carrying out naval and commercial repairs. It was awarded a contract in December, as part of the Tarif-45 Project, to upgrade the UAE's six 45-meter Ban Yas fast attack craft (TNC-45s) that are also to be installed with new combat management systems from Sweden's SaabTech. This system will provide an improved capability in anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, electronic warfare, air defense against aircraft and missiles, mine laying and much-needed mine countermeasures.

ADSB's marketing and contracts manager, William Saltzer, told Arabies TRENDS that ADSB was in the process of expanding 400 percent in terms of site size, workforce and shiplift capability. The expansion began in 1999 and is to be completed by the end of 2001.

ADSB is certainly being geared up to cope with the new orders: a new Shiplift and Transfer System was inaugurated in February; there are to be three new dry-dock facilities that are expected to be capable of handling vessels up to 85 meters in length; and there are to be two construction halls for such ships that will enable the simultaneous construction of a number of vessels.

The second phase of the expansion includes the manufacturing and electronics workshops. The total development cost was estimated at $50 million. ADSB currently undertakes an average of 120 naval and commercial ship repairs each year, though this is expected to increase after phase two is completed. Moreover, other GCC navies are likely to make greater use of the facilities.

ADSB began operating in Abu Dhabi's Mussafah facilities. It is said to be the only navy-capable shipyard in the Gulf Cooperation Council states, though it is restricted to a six-meter draught. Larger vessels are able to use Dubai's Jebel Ali shipyard, where ADSB keeps a small staff.

ADSB was launched as a UAE public joint stock company in 1995 with the American company Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) owning 40 percent of the stock, the Abu Dhabi government owning 10 percent and 50 percent held by 1,600 nationals. With the Baynunah project, CMN is expected to receive a 10 percent equity from the NNS share.

Frigates. Another major investment for the UAE - especially in terms of manpower numbers and skills development - would be if the country decides to procure more frigates. The UAE bought two used 140-meter frigates from the Netherlands in the late 1990s together with a training and maintenance package. The Dutch government would like to stress the advantages of buying from the Netherlands again - as there would be benefits in familiarization with the Dutch ships. As it is, the UAE is hoping that it can build up a sufficient pool of skilled seamen capable of operating even more sophisticated large warships in the future.

"I have the impression the UAE navy is fully satisfied with the two frigates they bought from us. . . . We are now having contacts with the UAE for the sale of another two used frigates," said the Netherlands' minister for foreign trade, Gerrit Ybema.
Meanwhile, in March, the Greek defense minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, said that Greece is considering cooperating with the UAE for the support and upgrade of the two original frigates.

The UAE's concern about submarine activity in the Gulf, as well as about operations by potentially hostile surface vessels, has driven its Naval Forces Maritime Patrol Aircraft Program, which aims to improve maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
In late March, the UAE announced the awarding of a $140 million contract to the European aerospace group EADS for four C-295 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) equipped with the EADS CASA Fully Integrated Tactical Systems (FITS). "There is no timetable for the delivery of these aircraft," said IDEX spokesman Obaid Al-Kutbi, "but we will finalize a schedule with the manufacturing company."

The UAE is likely to play a key role in any GCC maritime patrol operations. It has previously deployed Cougar and Panther helicopters to fulfill a similar task, but their flight durations and payload are more limited than those of fixed-wing MPAs. Nevertheless, the helicopters - which belong to the Abu Dhabi navy - will continue to play a key maritime role in terms of surveillance and due to the fact that they are armed with anti-ship missiles.

In other naval deals, Thales announced on March 26th that it has been retained by the UAE for the provision of communications for the entire UAE naval fleet, while Turkey's Gate Elektronix is expected to provide the UAE navy with electronic tracking systems. Meanwhile, China's state-owned China Shipbuilding Trading Company has expressed a strong interest in offering its expertise in naval patrol vessels to the UAE.

CADRE

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The UAE has ordered six missile patrol boats

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