670-ton Falaj 3 carries warship-level firepower in compact patrol vessel

The United Arab Emirates Navy’s Falaj 3-class offshore patrol vessel is drawing attention for packing unusually heavy firepower into a hull displacing only around 670 tons. Built by Abu Dhabi Ship Building, a subsidiary of EDGE Group, the roughly 200-foot vessel combines anti-ship missiles, layered air defenses, guided rockets, remote weapon stations, and a modern 76mm naval gun. The design is intended for operations in the Persian Gulf, where ships may face drones, missiles, helicopters, and swarms of fast-attack craft at relatively short ranges. The first vessel of the class, Altaf, entered service in February 2025. Despite being officially classified as an offshore patrol vessel, the Falaj 3 carries weapons more commonly associated with missile corvettes. Layered air defense on a small hull At the bow, the vessel carries a Leonardo 76mm OTO Super Rapid gun equipped with the STRALES guided ammunition system. The gun can fire DART guided projectiles against surface and aerial targets. The rounds are guided by a radio beam and use a proximity fuze, making them suitable for engaging maneuvering missiles and fast-moving small boats. Behind the gun is an eight-cell vertical launch system for MBDA VL MICA surface-to-air missiles, providing air-defense coverage out to roughly 12 miles. Further aft, a 21-cell Mk 49 launcher carries RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles, adding another independent defensive layer against incoming aircraft and missiles. Exocet adds long-range strike power The offensive fit is equally notable. Four MM40 Exocet Block 3C anti-ship missiles give the Falaj 3 the ability to strike surface targets at ranges of around 150 miles. The vessel also carries two 12-cell Low-cost Guided Imaging Rocket launchers. LOGIR uses infrared guidance and was developed primarily for maritime and coastal-defense roles. The rockets provide a cheaper option for engaging drones, uncrewed surface vessels and fast attack craft without using more expensive missiles. Two EOS R400-M 30mm remote weapon stations provide additional close-range firepower. Two 32-barrel Rheinmetall Multi Ammunition Soft-kill System launchers can deploy decoys to help defeat incoming guided weapons. Designed for Gulf warfare The Falaj 3’s sensor suite centers on a Leonardo Kronos 3D multifunction radar housed inside the integrated mast. It also carries a SPYNEL infrared search-and-track system for passive detection of nearby threats. Together, these systems give the vessel air and surface surveillance alongside several layers of offensive and defensive firepower. That configuration reflects the operating environment of the Persian Gulf, where naval vessels can face anti-ship missiles, drones and fast attack craft with limited warning. Rather than prioritizing patrol endurance alone, the Falaj 3 concentrates combat capability into a compact platform. EDGE is also building eight vessels based on the same design for Kuwait, where they will be known as the Al Dorra class. The Falaj 3 reflects a broader naval trend in which compact sensors, missiles and combat systems are allowing smaller vessels to perform missions once reserved for much larger warships. Its compact arsenal makes the class an unusually heavily armed modern offshore patrol vessel optimized for littoral operations.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Atharva is a full-time content writer with a post-graduate degree in media & amp; entertainment and a graduate degree in electronics & telecommunications. He has written in the sports and technology domains respectively. In his leisure time, Atharva loves learning about digital marketing and watching soccer matches. His main goal behind joining Interesting Engineering is to learn more about how the recent technological advancements are helping human beings on both societal and individual levels in their daily lives.