IDEX 2023: ADSB to build corvettes for Angola

A computer-generated image of the BR71 MK II corvette design. (Edge)

Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), a subsidiary of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Edge Group, will build three 71 m corvettes and an unspecified number of smaller vessels for the Angolan Navy under a EUR1 billion (USD1.05 billion) deal announced at IDEX 2023 in Abu Dhabi.

“Signing a EUR1 billion defence export deal represents a momentous achievement for Edge as well as ADSB,” said Khalid al-Breiki, Edge's president for platforms and systems. “This demonstrates our strategic approach and steadfast commitment to increasing national exports in line with the UAE leadership's directive.”

The corvettes will be based on ADSB's BR71 MK II design, which is an improved version of the six Baynunah-class ships that French company CMN delivered to the UAE Navy with ADSB's assistance.

Concept images and models show the new corvette armed with a 76 mm main gun, eight MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) in vertical launchers in front of the bridge, eight MBDA Exocet anti-ship missiles amidships, and two MBDA SIMBAD-RC launchers for Mistral SAMs on top of the helicopter hangar.