YONCA-ONUK JV at DIMDEX 2022
On the last day of DIMDEX, YONCA-ONUK JV Shipyard signed an MoU with Qatar’s Joint Special Forces Command to deliver four MRTP 24/U Fast Missile Craft (FMCs). With this contract Qatar’s Joint Special Forces Command has publicized its intention to exercise the option for the delivery of 4 MRTP24/U SOCs in the contract awarded during DIMDEX 2018. The aim of both parties is to finalize this contract in the near future. If it is formalized the number of MRTP24 series boats in service with Qatar’s Joint Special Forces Command will be increased to 8 and the total number of MRTP series boats in the Qatar Armed Forces will reach 24 including: 3 MRTP16 Fast Intervention Craft (FICs), 3 MRTP34 FPBs, 10 MRTP20 Improved FICs, 4 MRTP24/U SOCs and 4 MRTP24/U FMCs.
During the DIMDEX 2018 exhibition, YONCA-ONUK JV secured a contract from Qatar’s Joint Special Forces Command to deliver 4 MRTP24/U Special Operation Craft (SOC) with an option for 4 further boats in MRTP24/U Fast Missile Craft (FMC) configuration. The construction of MRTP24/U SOCs, which are the Qatari version of the Turkish Navy’s new SAT Boat design, started in 2019 and deliveries took place in 2021 summer.
The MRTP24/U SOCs are armed with ASELSAN’s 12.7mm STAMP Remote Controlled Stabilized Naval Weapon System (the Turkish Navy’s new SAT Boats are armed with ASELSAN’s 25mm STOP/MUHAFIZ Remote Controlled Stabilized Naval Weapon System.) Whereas the MRTP24/U FMCs will be fitted with a pair of 12.7mm STAMP as well as MBDA’s Mistral Mk3 missile and SIMBAD-RC ST short-range, anti-air self-defense system. By deploying two fire-and-forget MISTRAL missiles and the fact that it is fully controlled by a single operator from inside the vessel, the SIMBAD-RC ST is claimed to be able to provide effective defense capability against all threats including anti-ship missiles, combat aircraft, UAVs, helicopters, as well as small surface threats such as those presented by FIACs. At the end of 2018, MBDA successfully demonstrated the use of the Mistral missile against fast boats such as FIACs (Fast Inshore Attack Craft).
