Baynunah-class

The Baynunah class is a series of corvettes operated by the United Arab Emirates Navy. Developed to replace the Ardhana-class patrol craft, the program was initiated in 2004 when the UAE Ministry of Defence awarded a contract to Abu Dhabi Ship Building. The design is based on the CMN Group Combattante BR70. Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie built the lead ship in France, while the remaining five vessels were constructed in the UAE by Abu Dhabi Ship Building.

The class is designed for patrol, surveillance, and anti-surface warfare operations within territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. The vessels are also equipped for minelaying. Propulsion is provided by diesel engines and waterjets. The onboard sensor suite includes surveillance and navigation radars, fire control systems, and hull-mounted sonar for mine and obstacle avoidance. The design incorporates an aft helicopter deck and hangar. Armament includes a main naval gun, secondary autocannons, and missile systems for both air defense and anti-ship roles.

The lead ship, Baynunah, was launched in 2009 and began sea trials in 2010. Subsequent vessels were launched between 2010 and 2014, with the final ship, Al Hili, commissioned in 2017. Members of the class were deployed as part of the naval blockade of Yemen during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in the Yemeni Civil War. In 2023, the Angolan Navy entered into a contract with the EDGE Group to acquire three BR71 MKII variants.