The Saudi Ministry of Defense has formalized an agreement with the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to construct three advanced Avante 2200 corvette ships for the Royal Saudi Navy. The contract was signed in Riyadh by Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari, assistant minister of defense, and Ricardo Garcia-Baquero, Navantia’s chairman and CEO, in the presence of Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, the chief of staff.
The deal outlines that construction of the first ship will commence this year in Spain, with the subsequent two ships being built in Saudi Arabia, as part of the Kingdom’s push towards localizing defense capabilities under Vision 2030. All three vessels are expected to be delivered by 2028. They will integrate the domestically developed “Hazm” naval battle management system, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s naval technology.
This agreement not only includes the ships’ construction but also a comprehensive logistics support package, offering extensive training for over 100 Saudi engineers and the naval crew. The aim is to achieve complete localization in naval shipbuilding, combat systems integration, and maintenance, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
Khaled Al-Biyari emphasized that this acquisition supports Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision for an advanced naval industry in Saudi Arabia, following directives from Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to boost military readiness and localize defense manufacturing.
Garcia-Baquero highlighted the significance of this contract, building on the successful Sarawat Project, which brought five combat vessels to the Saudi Navy, enhancing regional maritime security and protecting strategic interests. He reiterated Navantia’s commitment to technology transfer, aiming to bolster Saudi Arabia’s naval capabilities with state-of-the-art combat systems.