ST Engineering displays UAE’s first Falaj-3 offshore patrol vessel Al Taf at WDS 2026.

ST Engineering displayed a scale model of the UAE Navy’s first-of-class Falaj-3 offshore patrol vessel, Al Taf P-163, at World Defense Show 2026.

At World Defense Show 2026, ST Engineering displayed a scale model of the UAE Navy’s Falaj-3 offshore patrol vessel Al Taf (P-163). The 62.7-meter OPV is equipped with VL MICA and RAM air defense systems, Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missiles, and a 76mm Strales gun. The program includes four ships under an AED 3.5 billion contract awarded to ADSB in 2021.
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At World Defense Show 2026, ST Engineering displayed a scale model of the UAE Navy’s first-of-class Falaj-3 offshore patrol vessel, the Al Taf (P-163), which was commissioned in February 2025. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The UAE's Falaj-3 OPV program began in May 2021 when Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), an entity of EDGE Group, received an AED 3.5 billion contract from the United Arab Emirates Navy and the UAE Ministry of Defense to build four Falaj-3-class offshore patrol vessels, which represented the largest order in the shipyard’s history. ST Engineering was contracted for basic, detailed, and production design, together with technical support for the first ship. Steel cutting for the first vessel took place in December 2022, followed by launch on January 14, 2025, at the ADSB shipyard under the patronage of Rear Admiral Pilot Staff Major General Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. The first-of-class ship, Al Taf (P-163), was commissioned at NAVDEX 2025, confirming a construction cycle from design completion to commissioning within four years.

The industrial framework of the program integrates local construction with external design input and lifecycle support arrangements under the umbrella of EDGE Group, which oversees ADSB as its naval arm. ST Engineering’s facilities at Benoi Yard, 7 Benoi Road, and Gul Yard, 55 Gul Road in Singapore are linked to the design and technical assistance phase, while ADSB’s construction facilities are located in Mussafah Industrial Area, Abu Dhabi. The project timeline from contract award in 2021 to commissioning of the first vessel in 2025 establishes a four-year span covering design completion, steel cutting, hull assembly, launch, trials, and entry into service. In June 2025, EDGE Group signed an additional AED 9 billion contract valued at $2.45 billion with Kuwait for Falaj-3-class boats, covering design, construction, trials, delivery, ammunition supply, integrated logistics support, and in-service support, extending the class beyond UAE service.

The Falaj-3 measures 62.7 m in overall length with a moulded breadth of 9.5 m and a depth of 4.45 m, while the moulded draft is 2.6 m and the maximum draft at the propellers reaches 3.4 m. Full-load displacement is cited at 680 t, with some references noting 641 t depending on configuration, and the complement is set at 39 personnel. The Falaj-3 can reach a top speed of 25 to 26 knots, with an operational range of 2,000 nautical miles at 16 knots. The propulsion system consists of four marine diesel engines connected via gearboxes to four shafts driving four fixed pitch propellers, supported by two vertical rudders and a bow thruster for manoeuvrability in restricted waters. Electrical power generation is delivered by four generators rated at 300 kWe each, producing a combined 1.2 MW for onboard systems.

The vessel integrates an Integrated Platform Management System derived from the Fearless-class, enabling centralized monitoring and control of propulsion, electrical, and auxiliary systems from a single point, contributing to automation and reduced crew workload. Survivability measures include CBRN protection, fire-zone subdivision, watertight integrity, and compliance with International Classification Society Naval Rules and U.S. Navy Stability Requirements, together with 100% redundancy for critical and major systems. A rigid hull inflatable boat is embarked with launch and recovery arrangements integrated into the hull to limit signature exposure. The design incorporates shaping measures to reduce radar cross-section and to limit infrared and acoustic signatures, supporting operations in littoral and blue-water environments against conventional and asymmetric threats.

The combat system integration is led by Leonardo and includes the ATHENA C Mk2 command management system in a configuration tailored to UAE requirements. The sensor suite centres on the Kronos Naval 3D multifunction radar installed under the integrated mast radome, complemented by two Kelvin Hughes navigation radars and a RESM and CESM electronic warfare suite from ELT Group. Passive surveillance is enhanced by the SPYNEL infrared search and track system mounted on the mast corners. Fire control for the 76 mm Super Rapido gun in Strales configuration with DART guided ammunition is provided by the NA-30S Mk2 dual-band radar and electro-optical system, enabling engagement of air and surface targets.

Armament includes eight vertical launch cells for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles and a Mk 49 launcher for RIM-116 RAM missiles, establishing a layered air defence capability. Anti-surface warfare is conducted through two twin launchers for MM40 Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missiles positioned amidships with side panels designed to reduce radar signature during missile exhaust. Short-range defence is reinforced by two trainable launchers for Halcon LOGIR imaging infrared guided rockets carrying 12 rounds each, alongside two EOS R400-M remotely operated turrets armed with the M230F 30 mm cannon. Two Rheinmetall MASS decoy launchers provide soft-kill countermeasures, completing a weapons and countermeasures configuration intended to address air, surface, and asymmetric threats within the vessel’s 60 m class envelope.

The Falaj-3 also reflects an evolution from earlier UAE patrol assets, including the Falaj 2-class patrol vessel derived from the Italian Diciotti-class, moving toward a new design based on ST Engineering's Fearless-class patrol vessel. Whereas the Falaj-2 has a displacement of about 550 t, a length of 55.7 m, and a complement of 28, the Falaj-3 possesses a larger hull with greater endurance and internal volume for systems and stores. Propulsion advances also appear between the classes, with the Falaj-2 using two MTU 16V 4000 M90 diesels and the Falaj-3 employing four marine diesel engines driving four shafts and fixed pitch propellers, which contribute to a higher top speed and range. Survivability and automation are increased in the newer design through an Integrated Platform Management System, greater system redundancy, and CBRN and watertight segmentation to align with modern naval rules and stability standards, while the earlier class has less emphasis on signature reduction geometry and systems architecture.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.