RIYADH -- The Saudi Navy has taken delivery of new batches of French fast interceptor boats.
State-owned Saudi Press Agency announced over the weekend that the second and third batches of HSI32 fast interceptor vessels had been delivered to the Saudi Navy from French shipbuilder CMN Group. The vessels were formally received by the commander of the Saudi Navy, Admiral Fahad al-Ghufaili, in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province.
Under a contract inked in 2018, Saudi Arabia is acquiring 39 HSI32 vessels. About half of this order will be produced at CMN facilities in Cherbourg, and the remainder are to be license-built in Saudi Arabia at facilities operated by Zamil Offshore Services. Saudi Arabia will receive technology transfer under the deal.
The first batch was delivered to Saudi Arabia in January.
CMN notes on its website that the HSI32 is capable of a maximum speed of 48 knots. It has a range of 1,200 nautical miles traveling at 12 knots, and a range of 650 nautical miles while traveling at 33 knots. The 32-meter craft can carry a C2 system, a 20mm remote turret, 12.7mm machine guns, an electro-optical station, radio direction finder, and a Satcom for data link.
The Saudi Navy is also procuring Combattante FS56 patrol boats from CMN Group. Those vessels were originally supposed to be provided to Lebanon under a Saudi-financed assistance package, but Riyadh terminated that aspect of the deal after a diplomatic row with Iran. The Saudi government was frustrated with what it said was Lebanon's failure to condemn an attack on Saudi diplomatic facilities in Iran.
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