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 Since coastal
security units have to secure the entire coastlines, an important
parameter is the cost and size of the fleet. Long meandering
shorelines and islands often offer many hideouts for infiltrators
and mask them from radar detection. Effective security of such
coastal lines and waterways require constant surveillance, by
airborne, coastal radars and electro-optical means, and frequent
patrols that can re-visit every area frequently, and at the same
time, respond to any alert raised by the surveillance elements,
under all visibility and sea conditions. On such missions, patrol
boats are required to maintain their positions for over 24 hours,
depending on the number of boats and the number of sectors under
protection. The boats should be designed with minimal draft, to
allow operating at the shallow coastal water, and be less confined
by reefs.
To facilitate
endurance, range and sea-keeping capabilities, medium sized boats
(+20m) are frequently used while smaller boats are also utilized
for shorter missions. Most patrol boats use conventional aluminum
hulls, which ensure long service life, simple and maintenance and
repair. Several ship constructors are already offering FPBs made
of composite materials. Composites are offering attractive weight
and construction saving, which directly contribute to lower cost
and higher speed but these materials can also be affected form
extended exposure to extreme environmental and physical
conditions. Some structures, especially those made of glass fibers
also absorb water and become heavier over time. Composites promise
a great future for faster and lighter patrol boats, but at
present, the limited life-cycle experience with
 composites
hulls have so-far limited the acceptance of such boats to few
innovators.
Patrol boats are
armed with machine guns, are effective at very short ranges, due
to the instability of the platform. Stabilized weapon stations for
heavier armament (20-35mm guns) include electro-optical weapons
director, they are remotely operated from a dedicated console,
which enable the accurate engagement of targets at much longer
range, therefore making the weapon effective both for deterrence
and engagement of targets. Remote controlled weapons stations such
as the Mini Typhoon developed by RAFAEL are now offered for
0.5"and 7.62mm machine guns and grenade launchers, and enable
accurate engagement of targets from the protected bridge.
Equipped with
advanced optical and thermal surveillance systems, patrol boats
can detect targets at extended range, especially at night. While
the target can be faster than the PB, the patrol boat don't have
to outpace its target, but track the target and coordinate the
engagement or intercept from a distance, without engaging in a
fast chase. They can plan such engagement with interception
profile that will enable them to close in faster, and be at the
most advantageous position to hit the target, while being
protected from incoming fire, if forceful action must be taken.
The important factor in such chase is the persistence – the
ability of the patrol boat to cruise at maximum speed, and outlast
the opponent on long and fast cruises at high sea.
Since missions are
long, it is important that the crew will be able to operate fresh
and ready during the entire mission, even at high sea condition,
while the opponents, sailing on smaller boats, will suffer much
more. The boats also have to be large enough to accommodate,
detain and interrogate the crew and passengers of the intercepted
target. It should also be capable of towing at least small boats.
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