Swedish shipbuilder Swede Ship Marine have built four 24 m Amphibious Troop Transport Vessel and one 25 m Fast Supply Vessel for the U.A.E Navy (delivered between 2003 and 2005).[2] Three additional vessels are being built by Swede Ship Marine for the U.A.E Navy .
- 2 MGB 62 corvettes - 630 tons full load - 8 MM-40 SSM, 1X8 Crotale SAM - commissioned 1990-1 - SA 316 Helo
- 6 TNC 45 fast attack craft - 260 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1980-1
- 2 Mubarraz class fast attack craft - 260 tons full load - 4 MM-40 SSM - commissioned 1990
- 6 Ardhana class patrol craft - 175 tons full load - commissioned 1975-6
- 20 patrol boats fast 4 tons
- 2 Type-332 Frankenthal class minehunter MHC
- 7 LCT landing craft tank
- 5 LCU Landing Craft Utility
- 16 LCP
- 4 other ships
In January 2004, Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding were awarded a contract to build a new class of multipurpose missile corvette , the Baynunah class . The contract is for six corvettes. One has been completed, but is undergoing sea trials . The Baynunah class will replace the six Ardhana class large patrol boats . The Kortenear class frigates where decommissioned in 2006 and are being rebuilt to yachts.
In 2009, it was announced that a 1,650 ton corvette, the Abu-Dhabi class , will be built. One is under contract, with an option for a second.
One 26 m Offshore Patrol Vessel, one 24 m Amphibious Troop Transport Vessel and one 24 m Patrol Vessel is under construction for the U.A.E Navy.
Military industry
The UAE has begun to produce a greater amount of military equipment in a bid to reduce foreign dependence and help with national Industrialization. The Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding company - ADSB produce a range of ships and are a prime contractor in the Baynunah Program , a program to design develop and produce 5-6 corvettes customized for operation in the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf . It has also produced and is producing ammunition, military transport vehicles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.In 2007 the first small arm ever produced in UAE , the Caracal pistol , was introduced at IDEX . it became the official sidearm of the UAE armed forces and security forces. The National Guard of Bahrain adopted it shortly thereafter. Jordan ordered an unspecified number of pistol in April, 2008 during SOFEX , the Special Forces Exhibition held in Jordan . UAE and Algeria established on November, 17th, 2008 a joint committee in order to test the Caracal pistol for further adoption by Algeria .
A joint venture agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 2007 between Tawazun Holding LLC, an investment company established by the Offset Program Bureau (OPB), Al Jaber Trading Establishment, part of Al Jaber Group, and Rheinmetall Munitions Systems, to set up the Al Burkan munition factory at the Zayed Military City in Abu Dhabi .
The OSP signed four Memorandums of Understanding with leading companies from Europe and Singapore at the Paris Eurosatory 2008 defense exhibition on Junen 20th, Rheinmetall Group and Diehl Defence Holding of Germany, Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engg), and Thales of France.
Military expenditures
- 1999: $2,100,000,000 (1.8% of Gross Domestic Product)
- 2000: $2,600,000,000 (0.8% of Gross Domestic Product)
- 2005: $3,800,000,000 (1.0% of Gross Domestic Product)
- 2010: $10,000,000,000
Military expansion (1991-2005)
The UAE went on an expansion drive in 1995, which began with the 1992-93 acquisition of 436 Leclerc Tanks and 415 BMP-3 Armored Vehicles. It had learned from the Iranian experiences with having a single supplier for its military and has diversified its arms purchases, purchasing weaponry mainly from Russia , the United States , the UK , Ukraine , France and Germany . It has also taken care to invest in the systems it has purchased and standardize them according to NATO/GCC Specifications.The equipment expansion was also followed by a Quantitative Manpower Expansion and Emiratisation program for the Armed forces. Presently (2005) almost all pilots in the UAE Airforce are UAE Nationals, with the restriction of non-nationals to certain positions in the instruction and maintenance divisions of the airforce. More nationals are being trained to fill these ranks, with programs such as the Technical Trainee Project underway to try to fill the technical jobs in the country.
There has also been a qualitative shift in the Personnel in the armed services, with expert instruction being brought in from around the world, refinement of local military training institutions and the increase in standards across the armed forces.In 2008, the UAE bought Patriot missiles and related radar, support services for the Patriot systems. There has been work concurrently on the Hawk systems, the Patriots predecessor, currently in use by the UAE.
In the last days of 2011, during a war scare with Iran over the Straits of Hormuz, the UAE announced a purchase of 3.48$ billion US worth of American missile systems: 2 radar systems, 96 missiles, spare parts and training. The UAE was the first country to acquire THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System) A contract worth 1.96$ billion was agreed for Lockheed Martin Corp to supply two Thaad anti-missile batteries.
