The ocean patrol vessels They are usually relatively simple military vessels whose main purpose is not to confront other warships. This type of boat, known internationally by the acronym IPO of Offshore Patrol Vessel, are used for monitor exclusive economic zones, combat piracy and smuggling, protect fishing or carry out search and rescue missions.
Typically, these boats prioritize autonomy, ease of maintenance and low operating costs. Their weapons are usually limited to a medium caliber cannon, machine guns and some remote controlled weapon stations.
The Falaj 3 of the United Arab Emirates Navy It completely breaks with that approach. with only 60 meters in length and about 641 tons of displacement at full load, incorporates an arsenal more typical of a well-armed missile corvette and, in some aspects, close to that of a light frigateboth much larger ships.
As explained by the specialized defense media The War Zone, the Falaj 3 ‘may be one of the most heavily armed warships in the world relative to its size’. Instead of sacrificing weapons to increase autonomy, the United Arab Emirates has opted to concentrate on just 60 meters an offensive and defensive capability that typically requires much larger ships.
The first ship of this class, named Altafofficially entered service with the Emirati Navy in February 2025. Falaj 3 is built Abu Dhabi Ship BuildingADSB, a company belonging to the Emirati group EDGEand derives from the class Fearless originally developed for Singapore.
This is the Falaj-3 patrol boat of the United Arab Emirates
Its dimensions help to understand how unusual everything on board is. The Falaj 3 measures 60 meters long, 9.5 meters wide and needs a crew of only 39 people. It can reach about 26 knots, equivalent to 48km/hand has an autonomy close to 2,000 nautical miles, about 3,700 kilometers.
Much of its exceptional firepower is concentrated in its air defense systems. In the bow there is a cannon Leonardo OTO Super Rapid 76mm equipped with system STRALES and guided projectiles DART. This ammunition can be used against ships, small fast boats and even aerial threats such as anti-ship missiles.
Eight vertical launch cells for anti-aircraft missiles appear just behind the cannon. VL MICA of MBDA. A launcher is added further aft. Raytheon Mk 49 with 21 RIM-116 RAM missilesproviding the ship with a second independent layer of short-range air defense. Having two anti-aircraft systems of this type is very unusual for an ocean patrol vessel.
Its offensive capacity does not correspond to that of a conventional OPV either. The Falaj 3 carries four anti-ship missiles MM40 Exocet Block 3C capable of attacking targets beyond the horizon and with a range of approximately 240 kilometers. It also incorporates two launchers 12 LOGIR guided rocketsdesigned to destroy drones, small fast boats and unmanned surface vehicles without having to spend much more expensive missiles.
The set is completed with two remote weapons stations 30mm EOS R400-M and two systems Rheinmetall MASS of 32 tubes intended to launch decoys against guided weapons. The boat also has a multifunction radar Leonardo Kronos 3D and the infrared search and tracking system SPYNEL.
The comparison with a frigate should be understood above all because of the quantity and variety of weapons in this case, not because both categories of ships have the same capabilities. Today’s frigates are much largerusually displace several thousand tons and have more autonomy, more powerful sensors, a greater number of missiles and anti-submarine capabilities that normally include sonar, torpedoes and helicopters.
Corvettes occupy precisely an intermediate step between patrol boats and frigates, although they are also considerably larger than the Falaj 3. Its hull displaces approximately a third of that of many modern corvettes, which makes the arsenal installed on board even more striking..