LIMA 2023: ADSB unveils new 92 m corvette

ADSB's new 92 m corvette – a rendering of which is pictured above – is positioned to meet requirements in the Asia-Pacific. (ADSB)

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) unveiled a model of a new 92 m corvette at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition 2023 held in Malaysia from 23 to 27 May.

Francesco Lo Monaco, ADSB's director of shipbuilding and engineering, told Janes that the new corvette is a multirole vessel equipped to perform a range of littoral and coastal missions and meet requirements of navies in the Asia-Pacific. He said the corvette can support surveillance capabilities across air, surface, and electronic warfare (EW) domains in the near-shore theatre.

The corvette features an in-house design by ADSB, work on which started in early 2022 and ended in the first quarter of 2023. The vessel has a modular design with hull structures made from high tensile steel. The corvette's superstructure features a welded marine grade aluminium alloy and is connected to the steel hull with bimetal joints to prevent electrolytic corrosion.

The corvette has an overall length of 92 m, a beam of 12.8 m, and a draft of 3.8 m. Propulsion is provided by four combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) engines and water-jets that enable a top speed of 28 kt, a range of 4,500 n mile, and an endurance of 18 days. The ship can accommodate up to 120 personnel.

Armament includes one 76 mm/57 mm naval gun system, one 30 mm naval gun system, eight surface-to-surface missiles, an eight-cell vertical launching system for surface-to-air missiles, and one close-in weapon system comprising two launchers.