RIYADH: The Ministry of Defense has entered into a contract with Spanish company Navantia for the acquisition and delivery of three Avante 2200 corvettes, designed for multipurpose combat, to enhance the capabilities of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). The agreement was formalized in a ceremony attended by top military officials, including Chief of General Staff Lieutenant-General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the contract was signed by Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari and Navantia Chairman and CEO Ricardo García-Baquero. The construction of the first vessel will commence this year, with the final delivery expected by 2028. The agreement specifies that the first vessel will be delivered in Spain, while the remaining two will have their systems completed in Saudi Arabia. This includes integrating the Saudi-developed naval battle combat management system, HAZEM, as part of efforts to localize military technology.

The contr
act supports Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to localize military industries and sustain naval systems. Navantia will provide comprehensive logistics support, including training for over 100 Saudi engineers. The contract also aims to achieve up to 100% localization of ship construction, system integration, and maintenance.

Dr. Al-Biyari emphasized that the contract aligns with the vision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to establish an advanced naval industry in Saudi Arabia. The initiative also follows directives from Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to enhance military readiness and maximize local content use.

The new contract builds on the success of the Sarawat project, which included the construction and delivery of five combat ships. This has elevated the readiness of the naval forces and enhanced maritime security in the region.

Navantia’s García-Baquero expressed satisfaction with the agreement, highlighting that the new vessels will feature state-of-the-art combat systems to address a range
of threats. He reiterated Navantia’s commitment to transferring technology to Saudi engineers and supporting the localization of technical capabilities in the Kingdom.