The Saudi Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the Spanish Navantia Company in Riyadh on Thursday to acquire three Avante 2200 corvettes, multipurpose combat vessels for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), in a signing ceremony attended by Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari and Navantia Chairman and CEO Ricardo García-Baquero signed the contract on behalf of their respective sides.
Under the new acquisition contract, construction of the first vessel will commence this year and the third and last combat vessel is scheduled for delivery to the RSNF by 2028. The agreement emphasizes delivering the first vessel in Spain, while the systems for the second and third vessels will be completed in the Kingdom. This includes acceptance testing on Saudi soil and waters as well as the installation and integration of the Saudi-developed naval battle combat management system (HAZEM) and other combat systems as part of localization efforts.
The contract aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to localize military industries, contributing to the sustainability of naval systems. Navantia will provide a comprehensive logistics support package, including crew training, a full-scale training plan for over 100 Saudi engineers, and localization of up to 100% of the construction of the new naval ships, system integration, and ship maintenance, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.
On this occasion, Al-Biyari said that the signing of the new acquisition contract aligns with the vision of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to establish an advanced naval industry base in the Kingdom. It also follows the directives of Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces, sustain defense systems, localize military industries, and maximize the use of local content.
He further noted that the new contract builds on the success of the first Sarawat project, marked by the completion of its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat ships. This achievement has raised the readiness level of the naval forces, enhanced maritime security in the region, and safeguarded the Kingdom's vital and strategic interests.
García-Baquero emphasized that the project vessels incorporate the latest combat systems to counter all air, surface, and underwater threats, making them the most advanced of their class worldwide. He reiterated the company's commitment to transferring technology to Saudi engineers and contributing to localizing technical capabilities in the Kingdom.
