OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid is expected to equip the Lebanese FS 56

Security and Defense Arabia has reported that the expected FS 56 will most likely be equipped with the OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid as a main gun. Marina Magnani, Communication & Image Manager at Oto Melara, has detailed that the "Lebanese Navy is seriously thinking to mount this system on the ship it will receive from the French company CMN" (ref).

Fore more details on the OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid, read here.

Lebanon to Acquire SIMBAD RC from MBDA

According to Security & Defense Arabia (Issue: 59) Lebanon will acquire SIMBAD RC under the DONAS agreement (Ref) to be installed on the expected FS 56 crafts.

No Exocet on the Lebanese Navy FS 56

Some news reports are indicating that the expected Lebanese Navy FS 56 will not come armed with Exocet anti-ship missiles.

The ships are however equipped 76mm gun turret as main armament, and 2 Narwhal 20A remotely controlled cannons.

Expected armament of the Lebanese Navy FS 56

Janes has given more details about the expected armament of the expected 3 FS 56 vessels that the LAF ordered as part of the French 3Billion USD deal.

According to the article, the vessel configuration is expected to include "an Oto Melara 76 mm gun mounted forward, up to eight Exocet anti-ship missiles, and Mistral short-range air-defence missiles fired from two Simbad RC launchers aft". The vessel can also accommodate a 40 mm Bofor gun at the back, but according to Janes, this remains an option.

The article also details that the the vessel "could be equipped with an enclosed-mast system that reduces its radar cross section". 

Reliable French arms deal details emerge: advances in air defense and navy

According to Janes, the Lebanes-French arms deal funded by Saudi Arabia will include:

1. Vehicle-mounted Mistral air-defense system
2. 20mm anti-aircraft guns (Tarasque Type 53 T2?)
3. Surplus VBC-90
4. CAESAR 155mm self-propelled howitzers
5. Eurocopter AS-532 Cougar helicopters
6. Combattante FS56: Fast Attack Long Range Craft armed with the Simbad air-defence systems and 20 mm Narwhal guns

The VBC-90 seem to be a direct replacement for the aging Pangard AML-90 which the LAF still operates.
The other equipment can be considered a leap in the capabilities of the LAF especially in terms of air defense and navy capabilities.

Still no clear answer about the other air capabilities that the LAF is seeking such as combat helicopters.