Posted on Feb 5, 2023
Qatari navy’s new amphibious ship to help fulfil nation’s ‘unique’ needs - Breaking Defense
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A new, amphibious ship will soon enter service for the Qatari navy, the second of seven ships to be built for a total of $5.9 billion by Italian ship maker Fincantieri.
And while the larger deal, signed in 2017, includes four corvettes as well as two offshore patrol vessels, the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious vessel in particular, dubbed “Al Fulk,” is expected to fulfil a unique role for a unique nation.
“The LPD is a niche capability that could be the backbone of a multinational operation in the region and significantly augment the capabilities of partner navies,” Andreas Krieg, CEO of the London-based consulting firm MENA Analytica, told Breaking Defense. “It could function as a hub for greater maritime operations in the Gulf and Indian Ocean.”
He added that vessel is a multirole platform that can be used on humanitarian operations as well, such as evacuation missions, which would tie in with Qatar’s aid and development goals.
The Al Fulk LPD was launched Jan. 24 in Italy at a ceremony attended by Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, and Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, along with other high-ranking guests.
And while the larger deal, signed in 2017, includes four corvettes as well as two offshore patrol vessels, the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) amphibious vessel in particular, dubbed “Al Fulk,” is expected to fulfil a unique role for a unique nation.
“The LPD is a niche capability that could be the backbone of a multinational operation in the region and significantly augment the capabilities of partner navies,” Andreas Krieg, CEO of the London-based consulting firm MENA Analytica, told Breaking Defense. “It could function as a hub for greater maritime operations in the Gulf and Indian Ocean.”
He added that vessel is a multirole platform that can be used on humanitarian operations as well, such as evacuation missions, which would tie in with Qatar’s aid and development goals.
The Al Fulk LPD was launched Jan. 24 in Italy at a ceremony attended by Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, and Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, along with other high-ranking guests.
Qatari navy’s new amphibious ship to help fulfil nation’s ‘unique’ needs - Breaking Defense
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The current platforms developed by Financtieri allow Qatar to provide niche capabilities to multinational operations and missions in the region. It would allow the US navy and other NATO navies to externalize or share the burden of maritime operations with Qatar’s navy, which makes Qatar an even more important ally in the region. Qatar wants to be an indispensable facilitator and broker in the region. [The] navy can support that objective,” Krieg said.
In March 2022, the United States officially designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally. The designation is expected to upgrade the partnership between Doha and Washington and to give the Gulf country special economic and military privileges in its relationship with the US.
But does the small nation have enough human resources to operate all the vessels it would need should the expansion continue apace? No, the analysts said, but there are ways around that problem.
“The Qatari navy has attracted a lot of talent in recent years – more so than other services in the Qatar Armed Forces – all with the expansion of the navy in mind. Beyond that, Qatar relies on loan service officers and servicemen from partnering nations such as Pakistan,” Krieg said.
Similarly, Des Roches said that Qatar is purchasing more military equipment than it will be able to man, and expected it to follow the lead of other GCC countries and hire third country nationals to man and crew some of these items.
“For ships, this is relatively easy — there is a surfeit of skilled mariners from countries such as the Philippines and India ready to serve as crewmen for Qatari pay, and trained officers from countries such as Poland have already served in command positions on GCC naval ships,” Des Roches concluded."
..."The current platforms developed by Financtieri allow Qatar to provide niche capabilities to multinational operations and missions in the region. It would allow the US navy and other NATO navies to externalize or share the burden of maritime operations with Qatar’s navy, which makes Qatar an even more important ally in the region. Qatar wants to be an indispensable facilitator and broker in the region. [The] navy can support that objective,” Krieg said.
In March 2022, the United States officially designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally. The designation is expected to upgrade the partnership between Doha and Washington and to give the Gulf country special economic and military privileges in its relationship with the US.
But does the small nation have enough human resources to operate all the vessels it would need should the expansion continue apace? No, the analysts said, but there are ways around that problem.
“The Qatari navy has attracted a lot of talent in recent years – more so than other services in the Qatar Armed Forces – all with the expansion of the navy in mind. Beyond that, Qatar relies on loan service officers and servicemen from partnering nations such as Pakistan,” Krieg said.
Similarly, Des Roches said that Qatar is purchasing more military equipment than it will be able to man, and expected it to follow the lead of other GCC countries and hire third country nationals to man and crew some of these items.
“For ships, this is relatively easy — there is a surfeit of skilled mariners from countries such as the Philippines and India ready to serve as crewmen for Qatari pay, and trained officers from countries such as Poland have already served in command positions on GCC naval ships,” Des Roches concluded."
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