During NAVDEX 2025, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) has presented the latest naval platform in its products line, the Rabdan FA-400 offshore patrol vessel, which is the first designed with full intellectual property (IP) ownership and constructed entirely in the UAE. The unveiling comes only four months since the keel laying ceremony on 24 October 2024
Design since its inception following a modular concept to offer a cost-effective solution to conduct a full range of missions, from military to surveillance, rescue and coastal patrol operations, the vessel has been engineered for superior seakeeping capabilities, the flexible design allowing to extend the hull and accommodate different mission payloads and an expandable combat suite to satisfy a wide range of operational requirements.
To ensure the ship structure is ready for all expected service loads, according to ADSB, the main deck and structural components below deck are constructed of class-approved marine-grade steel, while the superstructures are made of welded marine-grade aluminium alloy.
With an overall length and beam of respectively 42 and 8.30 metres, and a depth at midship of 4.1 metres, the FA-400 presents a single superstructures block with a main bridge characterized by a full external view coverage and a single mast accommodating most of the sensors and navigation suite. The spacious rear weather deck is characterized by a far stern launch and recovery station for a 5-to-6 metres RHIB and was shown accommodating a 20’ ISO container in addition to two anti-ship missile launchers positioned just behind the rear superstructures, the weather deck being capable to host different mission payloads.
The new ADSB OPV has a propulsion package based on four MTU Rolls-Royce 16V2000M96L diesel engines providing 1939 kW each connected to the same number of shafts and propellers ensuring a maximum speed at half and full load of respectively 30+ and 28 knots, with a range of 1,500 nm at the 14 knots cruising speed. With an operational endurance of 5-6 days, the new platform has accommodations for 30 persons.
The FA-400 has been designed to integrate different and increasingly capable combat and C4I systems to cope with customers’ requirements. ADSB has joined forces with a number of international suppliers of electronics and weapon systems, signing agreements at Euronaval 2024, IDEX/NAVDEX 2025 and between the two exhibitions with Lacroix, Indra, Dynateq, SIATT and OSIMaritime Systems to equip the new platforms alongside current and future designs. Although not officially specified, the FA-400 has been unveiled at NAVDEX equipped with a weapon package including a Dynateq Super Rogue 3 remotely controlled weapon station armed with a 20 mm gun in the bow area alongside a launcher for eight Halcon LOGIR guided rockets, although the same station could accommodate gun mounts up to 57 mm, EDR On-Line learned at the show.
Two additional remote controlled machine guns were fitted on the rear superstructures while two SIATT MANSUP anti-ship missiles were installed on the rear weather deck area. EDR On-Line understood the new platform could accommodate up to four MANSUP or MANSUP ER missiles, further boosting the armament package.
Based on information released by ADSB, the C4I systems baseline package is centred on a navigation suite including a fibre-optic gyro inertial system and data distribution system, two X-band navigation radars, the integrated bridge system, and a warship Automatic Identification System (AIS) alongside a configurable Command Management System (CMS) and integrated communication suite. The latter manages a sensors and systems baseline package including a 3D/2D surveillance radar and IFF interrogator and transponder, a Radar ESM and an electro-optical fire control system. During NAVDEX 2025, although no official detail was released, the FA-400 was shown equipped with a new 3D radar, RESM and Communications ESM (CESM) integrated suite.
A counter-drone equipment is provided through the recently created Abu Dhabi-based Pulse joint venture between EDGE and the Spanish Indra group. These were sided by a counter drone laser weapon system which turret was visible on top of the main bridge. According to EDR On-Line sources it has one 1 GW power and is provided by the same EDGE group. A more capable laser weapon system with a 3 GW power could find accommodation with energy provision in the 20’ ISO container positioned on the rear weather deck. Lacroix’s Sylena LightWeight decoy launcher, EDR On-Line understood, was installed on board but covered on the superstructures, while an electro-optical fire control system by an unspecified supplier was visible on top of the main bridge, alongside commercial navigation radars.
EDR On-Line also learned that the platform design allows for a longer 49 metres hull which could accommodate a stern helicopter landing deck. A shorter 42 metres long version is also possible.
Photos by P. Valpolini