OPV for Surface Patrol

In 7/2009, the Royal Omani Navy launched the first of three Project Khareef corvettes/OPVs procured from BAE Systems Surface Ships (formerly VT Group). The 99-m-long, 2,700-ton vessels are armed with eight Exocet MM40 Block 3 antiship missiles, 12 MICA VL SAMs, an Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid gun, a pair of 30mm guns and the Rheinmetall Multi-Ammunition Softkill System (MASS). The Project Khareef embarks a Super Lynx chopper. BAE Systems is using a similar design for the UK Royal Navy (RN) Future Surface Combatant Third-Component (FCS C2), which will assume MCM, survey and patrol missions. The 3,000-ton vessel will be able to embark a Merlin helicopter as well as four 11-m rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) or unmanned vessels.