Nigeria takes delivery of stealth patrol boat from China

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Nigeria takes delivery of stealth patrol boat from China

The launch ceremony for the F91 patrol vessel in January 2014. (Internet photo)

China officially turned over the first of two stealth patrol vessels to Nigeria at Qidong in eastern China’s Jiangsu province on Nov. 27, according to state broadcaster China National Radio.

Nigeria paid US$42 million to purchase two 1,800-tonne patrol ships from China. It paid an additional US$6.5 million to buy helicopters and replacement parts for the two vessels. The deal was made back in 2010 during the African Aerospace & Defense Exhibition. Goodluck Jonathan, the Nigerian president, confirmed the deal two years ago. After receiving the first vessel with hull number F91, Nigeria becomes the first nation in West Africa to operate a Chinese warship.

The F91 is equipped with one 76mm gun and two 30mm guns. With the capability to carry 70 crew members and a helicopter aboard, the vessel can reach 40km an hour. Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo of the PLA Navy said that the 1,800-tonne vessel has certain stealth features to defend itself from potential enemy attacks. He said that the radar section on the vessel is approximately equivalent to a 500-ton warship. It can be detected by the radar only when it is very close to an enemy.

Designed by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group, this type of offshore patrol vessel is very suitable for the Nigerian navy to use while conducting missions against pirates and local terrorist groups. With the F91 and its sister ship, the Nigerian government can also strengthen the defense of its offshore oilfields. The price of the vessel was between 65%-75% the cost of a patrol vessel from Western nations. China is looking for more potential oversea consumers in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Source:WCT

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