According to information published by Tactical Report on June 24, 2022, Iraq is reportedly interested in the French Gowind-class corvettes built by Naval Group.
The Gowind design is a family of steel monohull frigates, corvettes, and offshore patrol vessels developed in 2006 by France’s Naval Group, formerly known as DCNS, to conduct missions in the littoral zone such as anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
The Gowind family includes vessels with lengths from 85 to 111 meters (278 ft 10 into 364 ft 2 in) and displacement from 1,000 tons to 3,100 tons. The propulsion system is based on Combined Diesel and Diesel (CODAD) and includes water jets for improved maneuverability in shallow waters and high-speed performance.
The Gowind design can deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and underwater unmanned vehicles (UUVs). An aft deck has been provided allowing for a 10-ton class helicopter or UAV operations.
The platform’s weapon system consists of multi-functional radar and MICA surface-to-air missiles (SAM). It is armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles. The radar and other sensors are mounted on a single central mast thus allowing a 360-degree view.