Leonardo Delivers Upgraded Al Manama Ships to Bahraini Navy

Leonardo delivered the first of six upgraded Al Manama naval vessels to the Bahraini Navy at a ceremony in Mina Salman at Royal Bahrain Navy Headquarters on January 22.

The delivery follows a deal signed with the Royal Bahrain Naval Force in 2015. The upgrade includes a new weapon control system, training services and logistics, a Leonardo statement said.

The Al-Manama class guided-missile patrol combatant upgrade program is worth €50 to upgrade a total of six naval vessels by 2020.

The Al-Manama-class vessels were built for Bahrain by German shipbuilder Lürssen with deliveries starting in 1987.

Also called FPB 62 patrol combatants, these vessels displace 650 meters and have a crew complement of 40. According to shipbuilder specifications, they were delivered with an OTO Melara 76 mm gun, an Otobreda 40 mm gun, MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles and Dagaie decoys.