THREAD: Some "secrets" and rare photos from various Arab warships😀: 1. The special remote-controlled searchlights of a #UAE Baynunah-class corvette. Their dual head combines white HMI and UV.
2. One of the two quadruple Mk56 VLS for ESSM SAM of a #UAE Baynunah-class corvette. The missile launchers are not installed. The "launching cells" that receive the canisters are hidden below the steel floor gratings. We can only see the exhaust system's tubes.
3. The VDS of #UAE Abu Dhabi corvette, one of the most capable ASW warships in the Arab world.
4. The rear 533mm torpedo launchers of a #Saudi Al Riyadh-class frigate.
5. The Falaj-2 FACM of #UAE are quite special vessels that feature rare weapon systems such as the unique stealth cupola for their OTO 76mm gun and Hitrole-G (12.7mm gatling) RWS.
6. The sole user of the "half SeaRam" 11-cell Rolling Airframe Missile launcher, is the #UAE on their Arialah class OPVs.
7. The 19th country in the Arab World by population but at the same time the one with the most remarkable developments in its naval expansion is #Qatar. In 2016, the Navy ordered 4 x 107m corvettes and 1 x 143m LPD (all with Aster 30 SAM!) plus 2 x 64m FACM.
8. There are only two Arab navies that operate submarines (SSK): Egypt (8) and Algeria (6). In the past, the Arab submarine operators included also Libya (6) and Syria (3).
9. A "strange" procurement took place in the previous decade when #Egypt ordered FACM from the USA, a not traditional missile boat manufacturer (only As-Sadiq & Pegasus classes in the past)! This resulted to the Ezzat class, one of the most powerful & advanced designs worldwide!
10. A logistical nightmare: Egypt has created a powerful fleet but with warships of various origins. The Navy today operates French, German, Spanish, Russian/USSR, Chinese, American, Italian, British and South Korean -built ships with different weapons, sensors and electronics.
11. Another unique warship design serves with the #UAE Navy. Two Rmah-class 58m multi-purpose "supply ships" can also operate as disguised carriers of the 533mm ultra-long-range SeaHake Mod 4 torpedoes which are launched from four covered (hidden in hatches) rear torpedo tubes.
12. The Arab countries have some quite heavy OPVs in their inventories: ships equipped with powerful weapons including missiles (some FFBNW), decoy launchers, flight deck & advanced sensors. Some examples are the #UAE Arialah class, #Brunei Darussalam class & #Oman Al-Ofouq class
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THREAD: My take on the recent news by @Kathimerini_gr, that Greece is seeking (again) to acquire a pair of Ticonderoga-class cruisers from the @USNavy as an interim solution to modernize and strengthen the Fleet. (1/4)
@Kathimerini_gr@USNavy 1. The #HellenicNavy almost definitely cannot fill all their VLS-cells with SAM and it doesn't have to do so. Even with half load, each ship has superior SAM/gun armament, sensor equipment than about 4 current Greek FFGs. Moreover, each cruiser can embark two Seahawks. (2/4)
@Kathimerini_gr@USNavy 2. Τhe crew will come from the retirement of 3 non-mod. Kortenaers which will provide about 550 people. Additional crew could come from the retirement of the 6 obsolete coastal patrol vessels (120 men). Coast Guard should assume that duty. (3/4)