The participating warships, which include the second Al Zubarah-class corvette, QENS Damsah (F-102), and the cadet training ship Al Doha (QTS-91) from the Qatari Emiri Naval Force (QENF), along with the second Yarmook-class OPV PNS Tabuk and the lead boat of Agosta 90B-class submarines PNS Khalid, arrived at Hamad Port early in the morning on March 3, 2024.
Following these vessels, the Al-Ofouq-class patrol vessel Sadh from the Oman Navy, the Udaloy-class ASW destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov from the Russian Navy, and the Italian Navy’s FREMM frigate ITS Federico MARTINENGO, each berthed at the pier respectively.
The Royal Navy’s Hunt-class MCM vessel HMS Middleton is also expected to attend the exhibition, but as of the time of writing this article, it had not yet arrived.
About QENS Damsah (F-102)
With a full load displacement of circa 3,250 tonnes, a length and beam of respectively 107 and 14.7 meters, the new Al Zubarah-class corvettes feature a CODAD configured propulsion system based on four diesel engines connected through reduction gears to two shaft lines with variable pitch propellers and conventional rudders providing a maximum continuous and cruising speed of respectively 28 and 15 knots.
With such compact dimensions and displacement, and a crew core of 98 members plus accommodation for additional 14 units. The armament package includes a 76/62 mm Multi-Feeding Super Rapido main caliber gun and a 16-cell VLS (identified by Naval News as two 8-cell Naval Group A50 systems) for Aster 30 Block 1 surface-to-air missiles in the bow area.
Leonardo Grand Kronos Naval AESA radar positioned on top of the main mast similarly to the SAAM-ESD family of systems installed on board Italian and foreign navies’ vessels. The ship is also equipped as showed by empty canisters for two 4-cell launchers for MM40 Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missiles positioned amidship between the two funnels and self-defense weapons and the anti-torpedo decoy launchers.
The corvette also features a close in weapon system (CIWS) based on RAM Mk 49 guided missile launcher on top of the hangar with a 21-cell for the RAM missiles, of which the QNEF has acquired the RAM Block 2 version. Inner-layer protection against both conventional and asymmetric air and surface threats is provided by two Leonardo Marlin-WS 30 mm remote controlled gun systems
About Al Doha QTS-91
QTS 91 Al Doha is the first of two military training ships built by Anadolu Shipyard for the Qatari Navy. She was delivered to the QENF on August 25, 2021.
She is approximately 90 meters in length with a full load displacement of 2.150 tonnes. Besides basic naval cadet training, CTS will have a helipad for medium-sized helicopters on the stern and will be capable of providing combat management and weapon training to the trainees as well. The propulsion system features two diesel engines coupled to two shafts with CPP propellers delivering a top speed of 22 knots to the vessel.
Al Doha is armed with a Leonardo MARLIN 30 mm remote weapon system, and two 12.7 mm machine guns.
The vessels may also be used by Qatari Navy for offshore patrol duties, as a secondary mission. There are accommodations for 76 students and 8 instructors, in addition to a regular crew of 66 sailors.
About PNS Khalid
PNS Khalid is the lead vessel of the Agosta 90B submarines. She was built by DNCS in France, and enter the service for the Pakistan Navy in 1999.
The full displacement of the PNS Khalid is around 1730 tons, and 250 tons heavier while submerged. She has a length of 67 meters, and a beam of 6.8 meters. PNS Khalid is a diesel-electric submarine (SSK) powered by two SEMT-Pielstick 16PA4V-185 VG diesels and two Jeumont Schneider alternators. The following two submarines of this class are AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) capable, while PNS Khalid is not.
PNS Khalid is armed with Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles and SeaHake mod4 heavyweight torpedoes. She also can carry sea mines.
The submarines’ sonar suites, periscopes, command and control systems, naval data distribution systems, converters, steering control systems, chilled water systems, and radar & electronic support systems are all being replaced. Systems produced by numerous indigenous and national companies, including ASELSAN and HAVELSAN, are also being exported within the scope of the Project. All hull-related structural modifications, materials, and workmanship activities carried out on the submarines under the modernization project have been certified by the international classification society DNV (Dat Norske Veritas).
On January 25, 2022, the Turkish engineering company STM completed the upgrade and delivered PNS KHALID (S-137) to the Pakistan Navy in Karachi.
About PNS Tabuk
PNS Tabuk is the second Yarmook-class offshore patrol vessel of the Pakistan Navy. She was commissioned on November 16, 2020.
The Yarmook-class OPVs’ propulsion system architecture is CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel), consist of 4 Caterpillar 3516 diesel engines delivering power to 2 shafts.
The Yarmook-class OPV is fitted with a 30 mm Aselsan SMASH remote weapon station, two Aselsan STAMP remote weapon systems, and a Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapon system. These ships will have land-attack capability after Harbah missiles are deployed.
The ships can house a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle in separate hangars. Yarmook class OPVs can carry two RHIB (rigid-hulled inflatable boats), specifically one 11.5 m and one 6.5 m RHIB. The OPVs are designed to accommodate two twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for special mission-based operations.
The technical specifications of the OPV:
- Displacement: 2,300 tons
- Length: 90 m
- Beam: 14.4 m
- Top Speed: 23 knots
- Range: 6,000 nautical miles
- Endurance: 40 days
- Crew: 60+
About ITS Federico MARTINENGO
ITS Martinengo is the third of six Bergamini-class FREMM frigates (in “General Purpose” variant) of the Italian Navy. The vessel built by Fincantieri was launched in March 2017 and commissioned in April 2018. It is home-ported in Taranto naval base.
“General Purpose” FREMM frigates of the Italian Navy are fitted with 2x A50 Sylver Vertical Launching System (VLS) for a total of 16x ASTER 15 or ASTER 30 surface to air missiles by MBDA.
These frigates are 144 metres long with a beam of 19.7 metres, and have a displacement at full load of approximately 6,700 tonnes. The vessel will have a maximum speed of over 27 knots and will have a maximum accommodation capacity for a 200-person crew.
About Marshal Shaposhnikov
Marshal Shaposhnikov is a modernized Udaloy-class destroyer (reclassified as a frigate) of the Russian Navy, commissioned in 1985. After undergoing a significant upgrade by Dalzavod Shipyard in Vladivostok, she reentered service in 2021.
During the extensive modernization process, Marshal Shaposhnikov received new weapons and electronics, including Kalibr missiles. The anti-ship missiles were also changed. The boilers and coolers were replaced, and various systems underwent upgrades. The hull also underwent thorough overhaul. A MR-123 fire-control radar has replaced the MR-145, and MR-302M and MR-760 surveillance radars have been replaced with new systems. The forward Cross Swords fire-control radar has been replaced by unknown system that appears to employ a phased array and is likely to be associated with an upgraded version of the SA-N-9 Gauntlet surface-to-air missile.
As a result of these enhancements, the classification of the warship transitioned from a large antisubmarine ship to a frigate.
