In a major milestone for international defense cooperation, EDGE Group’s subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding (ADSB), has announced the launch of the NRA Ekuikui II, a BR71 MK II Combattante multi-mission corvette. This vessel is the first of its kind delivered under a landmark €1 billion contract aimed at modernizing the Angolan Navy’s maritime capabilities.
The project highlights a sophisticated global partnership: while the first corvette was launched in Cherbourg, France, in collaboration with CMN NAVAL, the second is currently under construction by ADSB in Abu Dhabi through a strategic transfer of technology. Beyond the corvettes, the deal includes a fleet of high-speed interceptors—seven of which have already been delivered—and the integration of the HT-100 NAVAL unmanned helicopter. These drones, assigned two per corvette, will be fully integrated into the ships’ combat management systems to provide advanced surveillance and “force multiplier” capabilities. This rapid progress, coming just two years after the contract signing, underscores the deepening security ties between the UAE and Angola.
