RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Defense signed an executive agreement with the Spanish Ministry of Defense in Madrid on Tuesday to support the construction of three multi-mission Avante 2200 corvette ships.
The deal aims to enhance training, experience exchange, and technical and logistical support for the Royal Saudi Navy as part of the Sarawat project’s expansion contract, the first phase of which was completed with the construction and delivery of five combat ships.
The agreement was signed by Lt. Gen. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Gharibi, chief of staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, and Antonio Pineiro Sanchez, chief of staff of the Spanish Navy.
This agreement seeks to strengthen cooperation between the defense ministries to benefit the Royal Saudi Navy’s Sarawat project by constructing and supplying three additional Avante 2200 corvettes.
These capabilities will enhance the naval forces’ readiness to defend the Kingdom, protect vital interests, improve maritime security in the region, and support the national defense strategy under Vision 2030.
The agreement includes technical support from the Spanish Navy during the ships’ construction, system inspection and testing, and cooperation in academic and practical training for the crews of the second group of Avante 2200 ships.
It also covers operational and tactical training after delivery and commissioning for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
The three additional ships will have technical and combat specifications similar to those of the five previously delivered under the Sarawat project and will be equipped to handle air, surface, and subsurface threats with the latest combat and engineering systems.
At the conclusion of the signing ceremony, Al-Gharibi recorded a message in the VIP register, and both parties exchanged commemorative gifts and took group photos.
