EDGE Group entity Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), a regional leader in the design, construction, repair, maintenance, refit, and conversion of naval and commercial vessels, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with LACROIX, a leading French company in naval decoy systems and countermeasures. This collaboration focuses on integrating LACROIX’s advanced decoy system into ADSB’s recently launched FA-400 Fast Attack vessel. The partnership agreement was signed by David Massey CEO of ADSB and François Moulinier, COO of LACROIX at EURONAVAL 2024 Exhibition, being held in Paris until 8 November. The RABDAN FA-400, fitted with LACROIX’s advanced decoy system, will be showcased at the Naval Defence Exhibition & Conference (NAVDEX), which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 17-21 February 2025.
François Moulinier, COO of LACROIX said: “Collaborating with ADSB on the FA-400 enables us to integrate our advanced decoy systems into a new generation of patrol vessels, merging French innovation with UAE naval expertise. Our technology, already operational on over 30 vessels worldwide, offers enhanced protection against a range of multifaceted threats, strengthening vessel defence capabilities on a global scale.”
David Massey, CEO of ADSB, said, “This partnership with LACROIX equips the RABDAN FA-400 – a 45-metre, purpose-built patrol vessel designed for speed and territorial and coastal duties – with proven, state-of-the-art decoy technology. This greatly enhances its defence capabilities, ensuring it is fully prepared to support military operations, search and rescue, surveillance, and patrol activities in modern maritime environments.”
Lacroix naval solutions are designed to protect vessels against radar, infrared, TV and laser-guided missiles and against torpedoes. The SYLENA decoy launching systems (DLS) were developed by LACROIX’s R&D department over the last 10 years to protect all kinds of vessels: patrol vessels, corvettes and frigates. A decade after delivering its first Sylena decoy launching system (DLS) ship set, French countermeasures manufacturer Lacroix Defense has used Euronaval 2024 to announce the manufacture of the 100th Sylena launcher. SEACLAD decoys are the latest generation in countermeasures to defeat current and future threats, and are currently in operational service on board more than 30 vessels in the world.
Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) is a shipbuilding company established in 1996 in the United Arab Emirates. It specializes in the construction, repair, and refit of naval and commercial vessels. ADSB serves as a key defense asset for the UAE, providing a range of services including the building and maintenance of various types of ships and marine components. ADSB constructs and maintains naval and commercial vessels at its shipyard in Abu Dhabi’s Mussafah Industrial Zone, spanning over 300,000 square meters. Established in 1995, Abu Dhabi Ship Building was formed as a joint venture between the Government of Abu Dhabi and Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). Its portfolio includes frigates, offshore patrol vessels, and fast patrol vessels. It also provides associated maintenance, repair, and engineering services.
