Naval Group press release
Bani Yas corvette is the first of the two Gowind corvettes ordered by the United Arab Emirates to Naval Group in 2019 and built in Lorient, France. Bani Yas corvette was launched in December 2021, left Lorient on 23 October 2023 and is due to arrive in the United Arab Emirates in early December. The second corvette, Al Emarat, launched on 13 May 2022 at Naval Group’s Lorient site, will soon be starting her sea trials.
“This day marks a symbolic milestone: the delivery of Bani Yas Gowind® Combat corvette, first unit of this program. Bani Yas and Al Emarat Gowind® Combat corvettes are made to be the best answer to the UAE Naval Forces operational requirements. This program symbolizes our joint commitment to deliver the best and is for sure the first step in a strong cooperation and longterm strategic partnership with the UAE.”
Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group
Bani Yas-class corvettes benefit from the modular design of the Gowind family and will enable the UAE Navy to meet current and future challenges with the most advanced technologies. As part of Naval Group’s service solutions to meet all the needs of modern navies, the UAE Navy‘s crew is trained in the operational use of the vessels.
The commercial success of the Gowind® corvette is significant, with 12 units already selected by various navies and most of the ships locally built through technology transfer and partnerships with the local industry.
Gowind: designed for naval superiority
Gowind® is Naval Group’s response to 21st century security and defence challenges. It is a corvette-size multi-mission Surface Combatant offering capabilities in all areas. It is designed to perform the full spectrum of naval defence operations and maritime security roles, with the highest level of performance.
Sturdy, strongly equipped, highly manoeuvrable, Gowind® integrates, through Naval Group’s SETIS® Combat Management System (CMS) and innovative structural solutions, the latest generation sensors and weapons. Designed to be used against air, surface or underwater threats from the initial steps of the engineering process, Gowind® is multipurpose by design.
Gowind® is a sea proven, enduring, stealth and highly survivable platform offering:
- high performance warfare capabilities integrated through the SETIS® CMS and an efficient and innovative Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PSIM) ;
- automated systems for user-friendly operations by an optimized crew ;
- large and smart deployable assets (heavy helicopter, UAVs, RHIBs) ;
- growth potential driven by customer requirement and innovation.
Technical features
- overall length: 102 m ;
- overall beam: 16 m ;
- displacement: 2,800 t.
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Naval News comments: GOWIND for France?
France has expressed its intention to build six GOWIND corvettes as replacements for the Floreal-class light frigates (which are all based in French overseas territories). This intention is further documented in the white paper regarding the French proposal for the Greek corvette program, specifically outlining the plan to engage in joint construction of GOWIND corvettes for both nations’ navies (i.e. some corvettes for the French Navy being produced in a Greek shipyard). The French proposal gains special importance for the Greek program, as the co-production of GOWIND between the two countries creates an unprecedented and close strategic partnership.
Furthermore, if we are indeed talking about regular co-production of vessels, and not just simultaneous production (i.e., the same vessels produced in parallel in Greece and France), this would be a first for France as French Navy warships are typically not built in foreign shipyards.
A French Navy source with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to Naval News the service’s preference for the GOWIND design “which is proven and exists today” over the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) “which we don’t know much about”. Asked about the fate of the EPC program in France, an industry source told Naval News that France remains committed to the program. The source added that some of the technologies developed as part of the EPC program could be applied to the GOWIND design for the upcoming Floreal-class replacement program.
