The first Doha-class air defense corvette ordered by the Qatari Ministry of Defence within the national naval acquisition program, took place today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia).

Fincantieri, one of the world’s top shipbuilding groups, and the Ministry of Defence of Qatar through Barzan Holding, a company wholly owned by the Qatari Ministry of Defense and responsible for empowering the military capabilities of the national armed force in the state, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha, aimed at strengthening their strategic partnership through the evaluation and studies of new technologies and capabilities, possibly leading to a future acquisition of new vessels already in 2020.

Qatar inaugurated a large naval base and new additions to its fleet during a ceremony on Sunday 14 July.

The steel cutting ceremony of the first patrol vessel (OPV - Offshore Patrol Vessel) ordered to Fincantieri by the Qatari Ministry of Defence within the national naval acquisition programme, took place today at the Muggiano (La Spezia) yard.