UAE Shipbuilder Wins $500M in Contracts

A United Arab Emirates shipbuilding company apparently has won a $500 million contract from the Gulf Arab state's navy to build six warships using French technology. Reuters reported that Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) said in a statement that the corvettes, known as the Baynunah Class, will be 70 m long and equipped with combat systems including missiles. Two of the vessels under the contract are optional. The ships are designed by French shipbuilder Constructions Mecaniques de Normandie and the first vessel will be built in France, one of the UAE's main arms suppliers.