The United Arab Emirates Navy has deployed the Falaj 3, a 60-meter patrol boat carrying the heavy firepower typically found on larger warships. The vessel packs anti-ship missiles, two air defense systems, and a 76 mm main gun into a hull displacing just 641 tons at full load.
Offshore patrol vessels are typically simple military ships designed to guard exclusive economic zones, combat piracy and smuggling, protect fisheries, and conduct search and rescue operations. These patrol ships usually prioritize operational range, low running costs, and easy maintenance over heavy weaponry.
Standard patrol craft usually carry only a medium-caliber cannon, machine guns, and remote weapon stations. The Falaj 3 breaks from this traditional design by mounting armament more typical of a well-armed missile corvette or a light frigate.
According to defense publication The War Zone, the Falaj 3 may be one of the most heavily armed warships in the world relative to its size. Rather than sacrificing weapons to increase endurance, the United Arab Emirates chose to concentrate high offensive and defensive power inside a small hull.
The first vessel of the class, named Altaf, officially entered service with the United Arab Emirates Navy in February 2025. Shipbuilder Abu Dhabi Ship Building, a subsidiary of the Emirati group EDGE, builds the Falaj 3 using a design derived from the Fearless class originally developed for Singapore.
Dimensions and Onboard Crew
The Falaj 3 measures 60 meters long and 9.5 meters wide, operating with a crew of 39 people. It reaches speeds of up to 26 knots, or roughly 48 km/h, with a maximum range of nearly 2,000 nautical miles, which equals about 3,700 kilometers.
Much of the vessel's firepower is concentrated in its air defense systems. The bow features a Leonardo OTO Super Rapid 76 mm cannon equipped with the STRALES system and DART guided ammunition. This gun can target surface ships, fast motorboats, and incoming aerial threats such as anti-ship missiles.
Directly behind the main gun sit eight vertical launch cells for MBDA VL MICA anti-aircraft missiles. Further aft, a Raytheon Mk 49 launcher carries 21 RIM-116 RAM missiles to provide a second independent layer of short-range air defense. Carrying two separate anti-aircraft missile systems is rare for an offshore patrol vessel.
Offensive Missiles and Defense Systems
The offensive capabilities of the Falaj 3 also exceed standard patrol vessel designs. The ship carries four MM40 Exocet Block 3C anti-ship missiles capable of striking targets beyond the horizon at ranges of approximately 240 kilometers. It also mounts two launchers carrying 12 LOGIR guided rockets each, designed to destroy drones, small fast boats, and unmanned surface craft without expending costly missiles.
Additional defense equipment includes two EOS R400-M 30 mm remote weapon stations and two 32-tube Rheinmetall MASS decoy systems to counter incoming guided weapons. Sensors on board include a Leonardo Kronos 3D multifunction radar and a SPYNEL infrared search and tracking system.
Comparisons to frigates refer primarily to the variety and density of armament on board rather than identical operational roles. Modern frigates are significantly larger, displacing several thousand tons while carrying anti-submarine sonar, torpedoes, helicopters, stronger sensors, and longer endurance.
Corvettes occupy an intermediate role between patrol boats and frigates, but they remain much larger than the new Emirati ship. The hull of the Falaj 3 displaces about one-third as much as many modern corvettes, making its heavy weapon package unusual for its size.
