Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has signed a EUR 1 Bn contract with Angola to supply a fleet of BR71 MKII corvettes to the Angolan Navy, parent company EDGE Group announced at IDEX 2023 on 20 February 2023.
Although the number of corvettes was not mentioned by EDGE in its press release, ADSB CEO David Massey told Shephard News at IDEX 2023 that the deal covers three BR71 Mk II corvettes and an undisclosed number of smaller boats.
The BR71 MKII corvettes will be 71 m long and thus similar to the six Baynunah-class corvettes ADSB supplied to the UAE Navy in conjunction with France’s CMN. According to EDGE the Angolan corvettes will feature “advanced mission systems including a 3D radar, electronic warfare suite, secure communications, a main gun, and surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems”.
The largest vessels currently operated by the Angolan Navy are two 62 m long Damen 6210-class offshore patrol vessels delivered in 2012, so the three ADSB-supplied corvettes will significantly enhance the Angolan Navy’s offshore capabilities.
Khalid Al Breiki, President of EDGE’s Platforms & Systems division, was quoted by the company as saying, “Signing a EUR 1 billion defence export deal represents a momentous achievement for EDGE as well as ADSB. This demonstrates our strategic approach and steadfast commitment to increasing national exports in line with the UAE leadership’s directive.”
ADSB’s Massey added that the BR71 MKII corvette “is a highly advanced vessel capable of performing multiple missions to secure Angola’s 1600 km coastline. We look forward to fulfilling the Angolan Navy’s operational requirements and strengthening their naval capabilities while expanding ADSB’s avenues of growth.”
Peter Felstead
