Navy of Saudi Arabia takes delivery of French HS132 fast interceptor boats from France.

According to a video released on the Official Twitter account of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia on September 20, 2020, the Navy has taken delivery of the second and third batches of French HS132 fast interceptor boats during a ceremony that was held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The delivery comes as part of an agreement with the French CMN shipyard for the construction of 39 boats.
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Saudi Navy has taken delivery of the second and third batches of French HS132 fast interceptor boats during a ceremony that was held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. (Picture source Saudi Navy)

The delivery is part of a joint cooperation initiative in military manufacturing between Saudi Arabia and France. Adm. Fahad Al-Ghufaili, commander of the Royal Saudi Navy, received the HS132 vessels in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.

In April 2018, Navy Recognition has announced that Saudi company Zamil Offshore Services concluded an agreement worth 480 million dollars with the French shipbuilding company CMN for the construction of 39 HSI32 interceptors for a Saudi state agency, likely the Coast Guards. According to the agreement, 19 vessels are set to be built by CMN in Cherbourg, France, and the remaining 20 will be assembled at the facilities of Zamil Offshore Services in Saudi Arabia.

The HS132 is a fast interceptor vessel designed and built by French shipyard CMN, a part of Privinvest Shipbuilding Group, She is designed to conduct sea strike operations, search and rescue (SAR), maritime security, sea safety, convoy protection, sea policing, anti-piracy, protection of vulnerable vessels and offshore installations, and control of illegal immigration.

The HS132 has an overall length of 32.2 m, an overall beam of 7 m, and a maximum draught of 1.4 m. It can accommodate a crew of 12, while up to 64 personnel can be carried for search and rescue operations. A 4.8m-long outboard rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) can be deployed through a launch-and-recovery ramp at the stern of the ship.

The HS132 is armed with one 20 mm remote-controlled gun turret as well as two 12.7mm machine gun mounted on each side of the vessel. She is motorized with three diesel engines, two main generators, and three waterjets. She can sail at a maximum top speed of 43 kts with a maximum range of about 800 nm. at a speed of 12 kts or 580 nm. at 33 kts.