The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with Spanish company Navantia for the construction of three additional Avante 2200 corvettes.
As disclosed, the vessels will be identical to the units already in service for the Royal Saudi Naval Force. Construction of the first unit will begin this year, and the last vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028.
Navantia will be responsible for the delivery of the first unit in Spain and will finalize the second and third units in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The installation, integration, and trials of the Hazem combat system will be done by SAMINavantia, a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia., similar to the works carried out on the fourth and fifth units of the first contract.
Furthermore, SAMINavantia will supply the complete combat system of the three corvettes.
Saudi Arabia aims to localize shipbuilding, so the contract also includes a training plan for over 100 Saudi engineers and the production of blocks for the third corvette in Saudi Arabia.
Navantia will also transfer the intellectual property rights of the Avante 2200 design to GAMI, allowing the country to use the design for future corvettes and potential exports.
The second batch of corvettes for Saudi Arabia will closely mirror the first, with a design based on Navantia’s Avante 2200 model.
Saudi Arabia’s first corvette, Al-Jubail, which entered into service in 2022, features a length of 104 meters and a beam of 14 meters and can accommodate 102 people. It can reach a maximum speed of 27 knots and has the capacity to carry 21-day supplies on board.
This multipurpose vessel, like the other units, is specifically designed for a range of critical maritime operations, including patrolling and monitoring the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), surveillance and control of maritime traffic, search and rescue missions, and providing assistance to other vessels.
In addition to its patrol and support functions, the corvette is equipped with advanced capabilities for defending strategic assets. These vessels feature robust systems for intelligence gathering as well as anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and electronic warfare capabilities.
Navantia delivered the fifth Avante 2200 corvette to Saudi Arabia in March this year.
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