Navantia launches its sixth corvette for Saudi Arabia and consolidates its strategic alliance with the Avante 2200 program

Photograph by Navantia.

Defense industry

The Navantia shipyard in San Fernando has launched the corvette ALMADINAH, the sixth vessel for the Royal Saudi Navy and the first under a second contract. The event reaffirms the industrial collaboration and the fulfillment of the Avante 2200 program's deadlines and requirements.

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The shipyard of Navantia en San Fernando has launched the corvette ALMADINAH, the sixth unit built for the Royal Navy of Arabia Saudí (RSNF) and the first vessel corresponding to the second contract signed between the Ministry of Defence Saudi Arabia and the Spanish shipbuilding company. The ship touched the water at 18:50 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, in a ceremony that consolidates a strategic alliance of high technological and economic value for Spanish industry.

The ceremony was attended by a distinguished institutional and business delegation, who were received by the president of Navantia, Ricardo DomínguezAfter the start of the event, which included the recitation of verses from the Quran, the main authorities involved in the project spoke.

Statements and institutional assessment

The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Saleh Al Khathami, representing the Chief of Staff of the Marina Real de Arabia Saudí, vice admiral Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman AL GhuraybiHe highlighted the significance of the milestone. "Together we celebrate a significant milestone in the second phase of the project." ALSARAWATThe launching of the ship HMS ALMADINAH"He declared. He also expressed his "sincere gratitude for the sustained commitment of Navantia already the outstanding efforts made," as well as the "valuable support provided by the Spain navy». Al Khathami He concluded that the ship "will contribute to safeguarding the maritime interests of the Kingdom and supporting regional and international stability."

For his part, the president of Navantia, Ricardo DomínguezHe highlighted the successful collaboration that has allowed the program Avante 2200 "We are proud that, across both series of corvettes, all ships have been delivered on time, within budget, and in full alignment with our localization commitments to the Kingdom, especially with GAMI," he stated.

Domínguez also expressed his gratitude to the staff and the collaborating industry: "Behind this ship lies a great deal of talent, effort, commitment, and a firm dedication to excellence. Thanks to your professionalism, we create ships that are now among the best in the world."

Industrial impact and technology transfer

The construction of this second series of three corvettes, which is taking place between the facilities of San Fernando y Puerto Real, represents a fundamental workload for the Bay CádizThe project is estimated to generate approximately four million work hours, creating an average of 2.200 skilled jobs daily. More than 20 auxiliary companies and 50 suppliers from various countries are involved, establishing a robust international supply chain.

Concept	Figure
Estimated workload	About four million hours
Skilled jobs created (daily average)	2.200
Auxiliary companies involved	More than
International Suppliers	50

The contract includes not only the construction, but also a package of integrated logistics support and crew training. Spain navy will collaborate in an operational evaluation period of the ships at the naval base of RotaThe delivery of the first unit in this series will take place in Españawhile the second and third will be transferred to Arabia Saudí for the final integration of their combat systems, following the model of the previous contract.

Capabilities of the Avante 2200 model

The corvettes of the model Avante 2200 These are state-of-the-art, multi-purpose vessels designed for surveillance, maritime traffic control, and search and rescue missions. They possess a remarkable capacity for the defense of strategic assets, with intelligence systems and anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and electronic warfare capabilities. The design maximizes the participation of Navantia through the incorporation of its own products such as the combat system HAZEM (developed through the joint venture SAMINavantia), the integrated communications system HERMESYS, the direction of fire DORNA and the integrated bridge MINERVA.

Looking to the future, Navantia and the Ministry of Defence Saudi Arabia and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2022 for a new multi-mission vessel program. This agreement, which has yet to be implemented, envisions the construction of five additional units with the goal of achieving 100% local construction capacity. Arabia SaudíThis would represent a new milestone in the transfer of technology and knowledge.

Key points and frequently asked questions about the Avante 2200 program

What are the implications of this contract for the Spanish auxiliary industry?

This program is an economic engine for the Bay Cádiz and its industrial ecosystem. The contract generates a workload of four million hours and supports approximately 2.200 skilled jobs daily, involving more than 20 auxiliary companies and 50 suppliers. For an exporting company, being part of this supply chain represents a business opportunity and a validation in the competitive international defense market.

How does Navantia position itself in the global defense market with this project?

Meeting deadlines and budgets in a technologically advanced program like the Avante 2200 consolidates to Navantia as a world-renowned shipbuilder. The ability to integrate proprietary systems (HAZEM, HERMESYS) and leading complex technology transfer projects strengthens its competitiveness for future contracts in strategic markets of Oriente Medio and other regions.

What is the next step in the collaboration between Navantia and Saudi Arabia?

The next strategic step is the implementation of the MOU signed in 2022 for the construction of five new multi-mission vessels. The long-term goal is to develop the capabilities of the local Saudi industry so that it can build 100% of the vessels domestically, representing an evolution of the business model from simple exports to comprehensive industrial collaboration and co-development.