Israel Aerospace supplying patrol boats to African military

BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel, April 1 (UPI) -- Israel Aerospace Industries reports that an unidentified African military has ordered fast patrol boats for delivery in 2016.

The four boats are the Super Dvora Mk 3, which is used by the Israeli Navy. The boats are 90 feet long, have a speed of as much as 50 knots in littoral waters, and have a range of 700 nautical miles while traveling at a speed of 14 knots.

IAI said the boats will be built at its Ramta facilities.

"This powerful boat will be an important addition to our customer's maritime arsenal for securing its littoral waters", said Nitzan Shaked, IAI/Ramta's general manager.

"We are very proud that our boats are being operated on nearly all of the world's oceans, and that this, another African customer, has selected our proven design to address their significant maritime challenges."

IAI said it has supplied more than 100 patrol boats in various configurations to maritime customers around the world.

The value of the contract was not disclosed.