DIMDEX 2024: Dearsan wins Qatari contract for two 50 m FACs
An artist's impression of the FAC 50 that the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces has ordered. (Dearsan)
Dearsan has been awarded a contract to design and build two 50 m fast attack craft (FAC) for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF), the Turkish shipyard announced during the DIMDEX 2024 show held in Doha from 4 to 6 March.
The contract was also reported by Qatar News Agency, which said the QENF signed a contract to “implement the fast attack craft project (Halul 11)”. It cited QENF Commander Major General Abdullah Hassan Al-Sulaiti as saying that the Halul 11 project covered the delivery of fast attack craft with an approximate length of 45 m.
A Dearsan representative confirmed to Janes that this was a reference to the FAC 50, as the design has evolved over the last five years with the vessel growing enlarged so that it can carry all the systems the QENF requires. It is now largely finalised, although there could still be some small changes.
He added that the first FAC 50 will be delivered in about three years, with the second following about two months later.
The FAC 50 design has a length of 50.7 m, a beam of 9.2 m, a draught of 2 m, can displace 320 tonnes, and have a crew of 33. It will have three diesel engines driving three water-jets that give it a top speed of more than 36 kt.
