First steel cut for new corvette for Royal Saudi Naval Forces

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has cut the first steel to be used in the construction of a new Avante 2200 corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF).

The corvette will be identical to the units already in service with the RSNF. This particular ship is one of three that were recently ordered by the Saudi Ministry of Defence.

Navantia will be responsible for the delivery of the first unit in Spain and will finalise the second and third units in Saudi Arabia for the installation, integration and trials of the Hazem Combat System to be done by SAMINavantia, similar to the works carried out on the fourth and fifth units of the first contract.

The contract also includes a comprehensive training plan for more than 100 Saudi engineers and the manufacturing of blocks for the third corvette in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Navantia will transfer the Intellectual Property Rights of the Avante 2200 design to GAMI, enabling the design’s utilisation for the manufacturing of future corvettes for Saudi Arabia, as well as for potential export markets.

This second batch series of corvettes for Saudi Arabia will be similar to the first batch, with a design based on Navantia’s Avante 2200 model, which is a multipurpose vessel specially designed for patrolling and monitoring of the exclusive economic zone, maritime traffic surveillance and control missions, search and rescue missions and assistance to other vessels, among others.

In addition, the vessels will have a capacity for the defence of strategic assets, intelligence, and anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-surface and electronic warfare capabilities.