Fincantieri, how it will be and how much is the amphibious unit worth for Qatar
The future landing unit for the Qatari Navy has been set up by Fincantieri. An in-depth study by Giovanni Martinelli
May 17 will represent a date destined to remain in the history of Fincantieri in some way. The setting up ceremony of the new amphibious unit destined for the Qatar Navy took place at the Palermo plant, the first element of great importance given that it had not been involved in the construction of military ships for a long time; which at the same time therefore represents the final step of the important program to strengthen the Emirate's Armed Force and one of the largest / most complex military units in recent years destined for export by the Triestino group.
Before addressing in detail the characteristics of this new naval platform, a quick step back; more precisely in August 2017, when the announcement of the assignment of a contract to Fincantieri for the construction in favor of the Doha Navy of 7 units arrived: 4 corvettes of the Al Zubarah class (in fact light frigates; all already launched and in the delivery phase), 2 Musherib class patrol vessels (actually motomissile missiles; also in the delivery phase) and finally, the "flagship" of this package, that is the amphibious unit of the LPD type (Landing Platform Dock ) in question.
Although no official figures have ever been provided, it is estimated that the contract was worth at least € 4 billion; which become 5 by adding the supply of missiles for all ships. An important program, therefore, not only for its operational implications (because thanks to these new platforms the Qatar Navy will be considerably renewed / strengthened) and industrial; but also for the creation of more solid relations between the latter country and Italy. In fact, the contract provides for significant training phases for Qatari personnel in Italy, also using the structures of our Navy.
It should be noted that this strengthening of the naval component is certainly not the only one underway by Doha; in fact it is the entire military instrument of Qatar that is the subject of a vigorous process of purchasing new weapon systems also for the Army and Air Force. With this same purchase policy also declined in an "original" way; to the extent that it becomes an integral part of Doha's international relations, these weapons systems are procured by a large number of countries, with the secondary objective of establishing the widest possible relations.
To return to the specific theme of the unit in question, what emerges clearly is a very specific aspect: this future LPD destined for the Qatari Emiri Navy will be a ship out of the ordinary due to its peculiar characteristics.
On the premise of the analysis, it must be said that official information is scarce; so much so that they have to be supplemented by those from various sources. In any case, the ship in question is derived from the similar Kalaat Beni Abbes, also built by Fincantieri for the Algerian Navy in 2014; in turn derived from the project of the San Giusto ship built for the Navy in the 90s.
From a size point of view, we are talking about a platform about 143 meters long, 21.5 meters wide and with a full displacement of around 8,800 tons. With a general configuration that will still be "classic"; a large flight deck (from which the NH-90 helicopters supplied by Leonardo can operate), the 3 landing craft of the LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized) type placed on the left side and which can exploit a special floodable basin for the handling of vehicles as well as personnel and, finally, a superstructure placed on the right side which houses various rooms / vital areas plus the ship's sensors.
The unit in question will be able to count on a crew of 150 men; to which another 400 soldiers from the landing force will be added. Clear news is also lacking on the propulsion system front, even if one can easily imagine one based on diesel engines; with a performance framework for which speeds in the order of 20 knots are assumed and a range of approximately 7,000 miles at a cruising speed of 15 knots.
The most interesting part of this ship, however, will be represented by the set of sensors as well as by the weapons on board; and, consequently, from the range of feasible missions that will therefore range from amphibious operations (including those in cases of humanitarian / rescue interventions) to the much more significant one of air defense.
In fact, 2 radars (both by Leonardo) will be placed on this LPD; the Kronos and the Kronos Power Shield. The latter is intended for long-range aerial discovery while the former is dedicated to surveillance, target tracking and missile guidance. An “important” combination, which also blends perfectly with the types of missiles embarked, namely the 16 Aster 30 anti-aircraft installed in vertical launchers (or VLS, Vertical Launching System) installed in the bow area; a combination that (in fact) projects the overall capabilities of this ship also in the field of defense against ballistic missiles (ABM Anti-Ballistic Missile). Really "remarkable"!
What is therefore coming to an end (with the LPD being scheduled for delivery in 2025), represented a significant challenge for Fincantieri; a challenge that at this point can be said to be won. Confirming the fact that the Trieste group, whose top management has just been renewed , is a leading international "player" in the military shipbuilding sector.
Consideration much less obvious than you think, because it is clear that the push to increase military spending in the coming years (in Europe, but not only) will not fail to have repercussions on the framework of orders for the Military Navies around the world. With concrete possibilities, therefore, for Fincantieri itself to obtain new successes in exports and thus increase its weight in this specific sector.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/fincantieri-come-sara-e-quanto-vale-lunita-anfibia-per-il-qatar/ on Thu, 19 May 2022 06:39:43 +0000.