Navantia Thrives with Next-Gen Corvettes for the Royal Saudi Navy
Navantia has achieved a notable achievement in the assembly of the second series of corvettes for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), with three vessels now actively in production. On July 9, the San Fernando shipyard in Cádiz commemorated two significant occasions: the keel laying of the first ship in this new series and the initial steel cutting for the third.
The keel-laying event marked the official commencement of construction for the future HMS Al-Madinah, which will be the 571st vessel constructed by Navantia. The occasion was graced by RSNF Vice Admiral Mohammed Abdlrahman Alghuraybi and the Saudi ambassador to Spain, Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al-Mogrin. They were received by Navantia President Ricardo Domínguez and Corvettes Division Director Alberto Cervantes.
The ceremony included the customary signing of a commemorative plaque, which was later welded to the ship by a Navantia technician, alongside the symbolic cutting of the first steel plate for the third corvette. With these achievements, all three vessels under the current agreement are now officially in production. While the first unit will be delivered from Spain, the second and third ships are slated for completion in Saudi Arabia, following the successful framework of the previous five-ship AVANTE 2200 initiative.
In addition to ship manufacturing, the new contract encompasses integrated logistics support, extensive crew training, and operational sea trials with the Spanish Navy at Rota Naval Base. Navantia is anticipated to train approximately 100 Saudi engineers as part of the program. The total workload is projected to reach four million labor hours and will facilitate up to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Cádiz area.
These state-of-the-art corvettes, based on the established AVANTE 2200 design, are devised for a multitude of missions including maritime security, search and rescue, and safeguarding critical infrastructure. The vessels will incorporate numerous advanced systems developed by Navantia, including the HAZEM combat management system—provided through the SAMINavantia joint venture—the HERMESYS communications suite, and the DORNA fire control system. Essential components will also feature MTU-licensed propulsion engines, Schelde-licensed gearboxes, and the MINERVA integrated bridge system.
