UAE Navy commissions Falaj 3 patrol boat with frigate-level armament

The United Arab Emirates Navy has commissioned the Falaj 3, a 60-meter offshore patrol vessel (OPV) featuring armament levels typically reserved for much larger frigates or missile corvettes. Built by Abu Dhabi Ship Building, a subsidiary of the Emirati EDGE Group, the vessel is designed to handle constabulary duties such as protecting exclusive economic zones, combating piracy, and conducting search and rescue operations.

Despite its relatively small displacement of approximately 641 to 670 tons and a crew of 39, the Falaj 3 carries a sophisticated weapons suite. Its primary armament includes a Leonardo OTO Super Rapid 76 mm cannon equipped with the STRALES system and DART guided ammunition, capable of targeting surface vessels and aerial threats.

For air defense, the vessel utilizes a multi-layered approach: an eight-cell vertical launch system for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles and a 21-cell Raytheon Mk 49 launcher for RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM). The first vessel of the class, named Altaf, officially entered service in February 2025.