French company HGH will equip eight offshore patrol vessels being built for the Kuwait Navy with SPYNEL 360-degree infrared surveillance systems under a new contract with EDGE Group subsidiary Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB).
The agreement covers the Kuwait Navy’s Al Dorra program, under which ADSB is constructing vessels based on the Falaj 3 design. Each vessel will receive SPYNEL along with the company’s CYCLOPE software.
Designed for persistent wide-area surveillance, SPYNEL uses passive infrared imaging to detect and track vessels, drones, and other potential threats without emitting radar signals. Their integration into the Al Dorra fleet is intended to improve situational awareness during maritime security, patrol, and coastal defense missions.
They will be integrated into Leonardo’s Combat Management System, allowing the infrared sensors to operate alongside the ships’ wider combat and surveillance architecture.
“This momentum will also allow us to further expand our activities in the UAE through the development of a regional hub to support our customers locally,” HGH Sales Director Cyril Marchebout said.
Kuwait’s Al Dorra
The Al Dorra program is one of Kuwait’s largest naval modernization efforts in recent years. The vessels are intended to strengthen maritime security, coastal patrol, search and rescue, and protection of offshore energy infrastructure.
It has continued to advance through a series of major contracts in 2026 as the eight-vessel fleet moves closer to delivery.
In June, Leonardo secured a 320-million-euro ($370 million) contract to provide naval combat systems for the program.
Earlier, in April, ADSB selected Singapore’s ST Engineering under a deal worth about 600 million Singapore dollars ($467 million) to design and supply platform systems for the fleet.
