EDGE launches second corvette for the Angolan Navy, the first of its class built in the UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE: 04 November 2026 – EDGE has launched NRA Nimi-ya-Lukeni (F301), the second BR71 MK II multi-mission corvette for the Angolan Navy, at the Abu Dhabi shipyard of its naval shipbuilding entity, Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), on 29 October 2026. The 71-metre vessel is the first of its class to be built in the UAE, constructed by ADSB following a transfer of technology.
The launch ceremony was attended by His Excellency Júlio Belarmino Gomes Maiato, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to the UAE, alongside senior leadership from EDGE and ADSB, Angolan Navy and government representatives, strategic partners and industry stakeholders.
Khaled Al Zaabi, President – Platforms & Systems, EDGE, and Chairman, ADSB, said: “Building the second corvette in Abu Dhabi is what genuine technology transfer should deliver. ADSB has applied that knowledge in its own shipyard, and corvettes for this programme have now been launched in both France and the UAE. This milestone is a credit to the engineers, production teams, technicians and industry partners behind it, and to the trust our Angolan customer has placed in ADSB.”
NRA Nimi-ya-Lukeni is the second of three BR71 MK II corvettes that ADSB is delivering under a EUR 1 billion contract signed in 2023. The first-of-class vessel, NRA Ekuikui II (F300), was designed and built by CMN Naval and launched in Cherbourg, France, in March 2026. ADSB has also delivered 12-metre and 16-metre high-speed interceptors as part of the programme.
Each corvette will carry two HT-100 NAVAL vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned helicopters from ANAVIA, the Switzerland-based EDGE entity, integrated with the vessel’s combat management system. All six systems have been delivered following Factory Acceptance Trials at ANAVIA’s facilities in Bilten, Switzerland, in August 2026. The programme brings naval platforms and unmanned systems from across EDGE together in one integrated solution.
photo courtesy EDGE
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EDGE launched the NRA Nimi-ya-Lukeni (F301), the second BR71 MK II multi-mission corvette for the Angolan Navy, at its Abu Dhabi shipyard on 29 October 2026. This vessel is the first of its class built in the UAE and is part of a EUR 1 billion contract. The corvette will be equipped with two HT-100 NAVAL VTOL unmanned helicopters.
- EDGE launched the NRA Nimi-ya-Lukeni (F301) corvette for the Angolan Navy.
- This is the second BR71 MK II corvette built by Abu Dhabi Ship Building.
- The corvette is part of a EUR 1 billion contract signed in 2023.
- Each corvette will carry two HT-100 NAVAL VTOL unmanned helicopters.
- The first corvette was launched in France in March 2026.