RIYADH — The Saudi Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Spanish company Navantia in Riyadh on Thursday to acquire and supply three Avante 2200 corvettes model multipurpose combat vessels for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. The contract was signed by Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Dr. Khalid Al-Biyari, and Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Navantia Ricardo García-Baquero. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili. Under the contract, the vessels will be identical to the units already in service for the Royal Saudi Naval Force. Construction of the first unit will begin this year, and the last vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028. Navantia will be responsible for the delivery of the first unit in Spain and will finalize the second and third units in Saudi Arabia. The installation, integration, and trials of the Hazem combat system will be done by SAMINavantia, a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, similar to the works carried out on the fourth and fifth units of the first contract. Furthermore, SAMINavantia will supply the complete combat system of the three corvettes. This is in line with achieving the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 regarding the localization of military industries, which contribute to the sustainability of naval systems. Saudi Arabia aims to localize shipbuilding so the contract also includes a training plan for over 100 Saudi engineers and the production of blocks for the third corvette in Saudi Arabia. Navantia will also transfer the intellectual property rights of the Avante 2200 design to GAMI, allowing the country to use the design for future corvettes and potential exports. The Spanish company will provide an integrated logistical support package, including training ship crews, implementing a comprehensive training plan for more than 100 Saudi engineers, and localizing up to 100 percent of the construction of new naval ships, integration of combat systems, and ship maintenance, in line with the goals and Saudi Vision 2030. Speaking on the occasion, Al-Biyari said that signing the new acquisition contract aligns within the vision of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to create an advanced maritime industry base in the Kingdom, as well as in accordance with the directives of Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman with the aim of raising the readiness of the armed forces, sustaining systems, localizing military industries, and maximizing the benefit from local content. He said that the new contract comes as a continuation of the success of the first project, called Sarawat Project, whose first phase was completed by building and delivering five combat ships, which contributed to raising the level of readiness of the naval forces to enhance maritime security in the region and protect the vital and strategic interests of the Kingdom. Chairman and CEO of Navantia García-Baquero expressed his happiness over signing the new acquisition contract after the success of the Sarawat Project, which is a qualitative leap for Navantia and the Navy. "The project vessesl 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. The signing ceremony was attended by Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries Eng. Ahmed Al-Ohali, Governor of the General Authority for Defense Development Dr. Faleh Al-Sulaiman, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Ghufaili, Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Gharibi and several Saudi and Spanish officials and company executives.
