Al-Ofouq-class patrol vessel

Al-Ofouq class
Class overview
Builders	ST Marine
Operators	Royal Navy of Oman
Preceded by	Province-class fast attack craft
Planned	4
Completed	4
Active	4
General characteristics
Type	Patrol boat
Displacement	1,100 tonnes [1]
Length	75 m (246 ft) [1]
Beam	10.8 m (35 ft) [1]
Draught	3.3 m (11 ft) [1]
Propulsion	2 x MTU 20V 8000 M91 diesel engines, CODELOD
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) [1]
Range	3,000  nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) [1]
Complement	66 [1]
Sensors & processing systems	Thales Variant 2D radar [2] TACTICOS combat management system [2] Thales Nederland STIR 1.2 EO Mk 2 electro-optic weapons director [2]
Electronic warfare & decoys	Thales Vigile ESM [2] Lacroix Sylena multimode soft-kill decoy system
Armament	1 × 76 mm Oto Melara cannon, 'A' position 2 × 30 mm Oto Melara Marlin-WS, amidship [3]
Aviation facilities	Flight deck capable of launching one medium-sized helicopter [4]

The Al-Ofouq class are four patrol vessels of Royal Navy of Oman as replacements for the Province-class fast attack craft patrol vessels.

Following a competitive international tender in April 2012, ST Marine of Singapore won the USD703 million contract from the Omani Defence Ministry, beating off Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding and India's Goa Shipyard. ^[5] The Al-Ofouq class is based on the 75 m (246 ft) variant of the 55 m (180 ft) Fearless-class patrol vessel currently used by the Republic of Singapore Navy.

Operational history

RNOS Al-Seeb and Al-Shinas took part in the 13th edition of Indo-Oman maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ (Sea Breeze) along with the Indian Navy's INS Trikand, INS Sumitra and Dornier 228 MPA from 19–24 November 2022. BAE Systems Hawk of the Royal Air Force of Oman also participated in the exercise. ^[6]

RNOS Al-Seeb paid a good will visit to the Port of Kochi, India between 8 and 12 October 2024. The ship was welcomed by the Southern Naval Command Band. This was coincidental with the Muscat, Oman visit First Training Squadron's (1TS) visit to amid their Long-Range Deployment. ^[7] Following the port call, the ship also took part in the 14th edition of Indo-Oman maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ (Sea Breeze) along with the Indian Navy's INS Trikand and Dornier 228 MPA from 13–18 October 2024. ^[8]

RNOS Al-Seeb again visited Kochi for a four-day visit on 6 October 2025 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Salim Al Saidi. ^[9]

Ships of class

Number	Pennant number	Name	Builder	Launched	Commissioned	Status
1	Z 20	Al-Seeb	ST Marine, Benoi, Singapore	29 January 2014 [5]	31 March 2015 [10]	Active
2	Z 21	Al-Shinas [10]	ST Marine, Benoi, Singapore	14 June 2014 [5]		Active
3	Z 22	Sadh	ST Marine, Benoi, Singapore	17 September 2014 [5]		Active
4	Z 23	Khassab	ST Marine, Benoi, Singapore	24 June 2016 [4]	2 August 2016	Active

Notes and references

1. "Al-Ofouq-class Project Reference". Cofelyaxima Marine. 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
2. "Thales lands contract for Omani Patrol Vessels" (PDF). Thales. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
3. "Naval Mid-Cal: Remote-control Cannon Proliferation at Sea". Armada International. 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-01-10. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
4. Rahmat, Ridzwan. "ST Marine delivers Oman's final Al-Ofouq patrol vessel". IHS Jane's 360. IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
5. "ST Marine launches third Omani patrol vessel". IHS Janes. 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
6. "EXERCISE NASEEM AL BAHR - 2022 SEA PHASE". Press Information Bureau . 2022-11-24. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
7. "Visit of Royal Navy of Oman Ship Al Seeb to Kochi" (Press release). Indian Navy . Retrieved 2025-10-12.
8. "INDIAN NAVY - ROYAL NAVY OF OMAN MARITIME EXERCISE (NASEEM AL BAHR)". Press Information Bureau . 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
9. @IN_HQSNC (2025-10-10). "Royal Navy of #Oman🇴🇲 Ship Al Seeb was on a goodwill visit to #Kochi from 06–09 Oct 2025. The ship was accorded a warm reception with fanfare by the Southern Naval Command Band" (Tweet). Retrieved 2025-10-12– via Twitter.
10. "Oman accepts first Al-Ofouq patrol vessel, names second". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-01.