Kuwait’s patrol combatant KNS Al-Garoh (P3725) has arrived in Qatari waters to participate in the Visiting Warships display ahead of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) 2026, signaling a growing focus among Gulf states on coalition-ready, operationally proven naval assets amid intensifying maritime security challenges.
Observed from the approaches to Hamad Port, Al-Garoh’s entry underscores a broader regional effort to demonstrate practical maritime readiness rather than simply parade new hardware. Designated as Kuwait’s representative warship for the exhibition, the vessel reflects a deliberate choice to highlight active, in-service platforms with coalition interoperability, a priority as Gulf nations face a combination of energy security pressures, contested littoral spaces, and the potential for asymmetric threats in chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and northern Gulf.
Al-Garoh belongs to Kuwait’s Um Al Maradim-class (P37-BRL) fast patrol and missile craft program, an initiative born from the post-1991 rebuilding effort following the Gulf War. Lessons from that conflict underscored the vulnerability of small combatants to air attack and saturation missile strikes, prompting Kuwait to pursue vessels that balance compactness with survivability and lethality.
The class was built by CMN in Cherbourg, with hulls delivered from the late 1990s into 2000. Later units, including Al-Garoh, incorporated surface-launched Sea Skua missiles, highlighting Kuwait’s decision to prioritize precision anti-surface capability over the heavier missile-and-gun configurations found on older fast attack craft. The philosophy is clear: a platform capable of rapid engagement and relocation, operating efficiently in congested Gulf littorals, with sensors and electronic countermeasures to survive in a contested environment.
Al-Garoh measures 42 meters in length with an 8.5-meter beam and a shallow draft of 1.9 to 2 meters, dimensions suited for the confined northern Gulf waters. Displacement is approximately 225 tons standard, rising to 245–250 tons at full load, while the ship carries a core crew in the mid-20s, expandable for specific missions.
The vessel is powered by two MTU 16V 538 TB93 diesel engines driving waterjets, providing high-speed maneuverability and acceleration in restricted waters. Reported top speed is in the high-30-knot range, with an endurance of roughly 1,300 nautical miles at economical speed, ideal for patrol, escort, and rapid-response operations.
What distinguishes Al-Garoh from conventional fast boats is its sensor and self-protection package. The ship combines surface search and navigation radars with multi-role radar capabilities and an electronic support measures (ESM) suite, leveraging Kuwait’s long-term procurement of the DR-3000 family.
Fire-control integration includes Sea Spray Mk3-class radar paired with the Najir stabilized electro-optical director family, which offers TV and infrared imaging alongside laser rangefinding. This setup enables day-and-night target tracking and gunnery control without relying exclusively on active radar emissions, a critical feature in the cluttered, surveillance-heavy littoral environment of the Gulf.
For soft-kill defense, Al-Garoh carries DAGAIE decoy launchers for chaff and flare, providing basic countermeasures against radar-guided and infrared threats, particularly vital during operations in confined waters near offshore energy infrastructure.
Al-Garoh’s weapon suite reflects a “controlled lethality” approach. A single 40 mm gun is complemented by a 20 mm cannon and heavy machine-gun coverage, designed for close-in defense and warning-fire roles. The vessel’s primary offensive capability is the Sea Skua surface-to-surface missile, carried in twin launchers with a total of four missiles.
With an effective range of under 20 kilometers, the Sea Skua enables rapid, precise strikes against small and medium surface targets, aligning with Kuwait’s operational requirements for sea-denial missions, coastal defense, and protection of offshore infrastructure. Tactically, Al-Garoh is designed to hit first and relocate quickly, relying on speed, sensor cues, and electronic deception rather than armor or layered area air defenses. This makes the ship most effective when coordinated with shore-based surveillance, air support, or coalition maritime situational awareness networks.
Al-Garoh has a documented history of participation in coalition maritime security exercises, underscoring its role beyond national patrol duties. In August 2018, the vessel took part in a trilateral exercise involving U.S., Iraqi, and Kuwaiti naval forces, emphasizing maritime security tactics and infrastructure protection. This is particularly relevant in a region where narrow sea corridors and offshore terminals are strategic chokepoints.
In June 2021, Al-Garoh participated in Eager Defender 21, operating alongside U.S. and Kuwaiti units in a scenario framed by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command as interoperability training for maritime security operations. Early in its service, the vessel was also employed for sovereignty enforcement, intercepting Iraqi fishing vessels and performing routine patrols in the northern Gulf. These operations illustrate the dual role of the class: everyday enforcement and rapid-response combat readiness.
For Kuwait, Al-Garoh and its sister ships are not meant to establish a blue-water navy. Instead, their value lies in credible local maritime defense, particularly in protecting ports, shipping lanes, and energy lifelines. These vessels offer agility, speed, and precision, enabling rapid concentration of firepower in confined operational areas—a crucial capability for littoral combat in the Gulf.
This is particularly important as Kuwait embarks on a naval modernization program, including the introduction of the Falaj 3-class patrol vessels, which will eventually replace the Um Al Maradim class. However, the transition comes with training, crewing, and operational challenges, making current platforms like Al-Garoh indispensable in the near term.
Bringing Al-Garoh to DIMDEX 2026 serves multiple strategic purposes: it showcases an operational platform with real coalition experience, reinforces Kuwait’s commitment to regional maritime diplomacy, and signals readiness to engage with industry on sustainment and upgrade pathways for the fleet while preparing for the next-generation vessels.
The decision to deploy operationally proven ships like Al-Garoh to exhibitions coincides with rising maritime security concerns in the Gulf, particularly around energy routes, chokepoints, and critical infrastructure. In recent years, the region has witnessed a series of incidents involving tanker attacks, drone threats, and sabotage, which have accelerated the emphasis on coalition readiness and interoperability among Gulf navies.
DIMDEX itself, now in its ninth edition, increasingly reflects these realities. The event has evolved from a defense exhibition into a platform where active regional security dynamics are visible, with participating nations showcasing in-service vessels that could realistically operate together in a crisis scenario. Kuwait’s decision to feature Al-Garoh, rather than a purely ceremonial or newly commissioned ship, aligns with this trend, emphasizing practical capability over optics.
The display also highlights how Gulf navies are balancing modernization and operational relevance, ensuring that while larger, more capable platforms are under development, smaller, agile ships remain fully integrated into multilateral security exercises. Al-Garoh, with its coalition drill experience, fast maneuvering, and precision strike capability, is emblematic of this approach.
As DIMDEX 2026 unfolds, observers will be closely watching how regional powers leverage platforms like Al-Garoh to demonstrate operational maturity, interoperability, and regional maritime stewardship. The exhibition provides an opportunity not only for defense diplomacy but also for knowledge exchange on sustainment, upgrades, and tactical innovation, crucial as Gulf states prepare for the next decade of maritime challenges.
Kuwait’s participation with Al-Garoh thus sends a clear message: capable, in-service naval assets remain central to Gulf security strategy, particularly in littoral and coalition contexts. It also highlights the Gulf’s focus on pragmatic maritime readiness, ensuring that the protection of strategic chokepoints, offshore energy infrastructure, and critical sea lanes is conducted with proven, credible tools rather than symbolic hardware.
KNS Al-Garoh’s arrival in Doha is more than a ceremonial visit; it is a statement of capability, commitment, and coalition-minded strategy, showcasing how Gulf navies are adapting to evolving security dynamics while preparing for future challenges in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime regions.
