Development of Qatar’s Fast Attack Craft
Milestone Achievement at Dearsan Shipyard
Türkiye’s Dearsan Shipyard has successfully reached a significant milestone in the construction of two 50-meter guided-missile fast attack craft (FAC) for the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces. The first vessel, Al Wakrah (Q51), was launched on 17 November 2025. This event followed the steel-cutting ceremony held on 22 November 2024, marking the successful progression to a vital phase in the shipbuilding process.
Technical Specifications
The Al Wakrah (Q51) is engineered for high performance with the following specifications:
- Overall Length: 50.76 meters
- Beam: 9.53 meters
- Draft: 2.10 meters
- Maximum Speed: 36 knots
- Operational Range: 1,000 nautical miles
Armament and Defense Systems
The vessels are equipped with advanced weaponry designed to enhance their combat capabilities, including:
- Missile Systems: Four Çakır surface-to-surface missiles, along with Sungur surface-to-air missiles.
- Main Artillery: A Leonardo Marlin 40 mm naval gun.
- Close-in Defense:
- Two Aselsan Stamp remote weapon stations (RWS) featuring 12.7 mm machine guns.
- Two manually operated 12.7 mm machine guns.
Surveillance and Electronic Warfare
Sophisticated radar and electronic warfare systems enhance the operational effectiveness of the Al Wakrah. The key features include:
- Primary Search Radar: Aselsan Mar-D.
- Navigational Support:
- Alper low probability of intercept (LPI) radar.
- Kelvin Hughes SharpEye radar.
- Fire Control: Supported by the Aselsan Ahtapot-S electro-optical system.
- Electronic Warfare: Aselsan ARES 2-NC electronic support measures (ESM) capabilities.
Strategic Importance
The development of these fast attack crafts underscores Qatar’s commitment to modernizing its naval capabilities. The combination of advanced weapon systems and cutting-edge technology positions the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces to effectively address maritime security challenges in the region.
For further insights into Qatar’s naval advancement and procurement strategies, refer to Dearsan lays keel for first 50 m missile boat for Qatari navy.
