RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Defense signed an agreement with Spanish shipbuilder Navantia in Riyadh on Thursday to acquire and build three multi-mission Avante 2200 corvette ships for the Royal Saudi Navy, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreement was signed by Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari, assistant minister of defense for executive affairs, and Ricardo Garcia-Baquero, chairman and CEO of Navantia, in the presence of chief of staff, Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Under the new acquisition contract, construction of the first vessel will begin this year, with the final delivery of all three combat ships scheduled for completion by 2028.
The agreement specifies that while the first ship will be built in Spain, the second and third vessels will be constructed in Saudi Arabia, including acceptance trials in Saudi waters. The ships will be equipped with the domestically developed “Hazm” naval battle management system, along with other combat systems, as part of the Kingdom’s localization efforts under Vision 2030.
According to SPA, the deal includes a comprehensive logistics support package, featuring crew training and an extensive training program for more than 100 Saudi engineers. The agreement aims to achieve up to 100 percent localization of new naval shipbuilding, combat systems integration and maintenance, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.
Al-Biyari said that the acquisition aligned with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision of establishing an advanced naval industrial base in the Kingdom, and followed Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman’s directives to enhance military readiness, ensure system sustainability, localize military industries and maximize local content.
The contract builds on the success of the initial “Sarawat Project,” which delivered five combat vessels and strengthened the naval forces’ capability to enhance maritime security in the region and protect Saudi Arabia’s strategic interests.
Garcia-Baquero expressed satisfaction with the new contract following the landmark “Sarawat Project,” which represented a watershed moment for both Navantia and the Saudi Naval Forces.
He said that the vessels would incorporate the latest combat systems to counter aerial, surface and subsurface threats, making them among the most advanced of their kind globally. He affirmed Navantia’s commitment to technology transfer and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s technical capabilities localization efforts.
