Navantia Unveils Ambitious Project: Launching the Seventh Avante 2200 Corvette for Saudi Arabia’s Naval Forces
Navantia, the Spanish defense enterprise, has officially initiated the assembly of the seventh Avante 2200-class corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces at its San Fernando shipyard.
This significant achievement follows three months after work commenced on the initial vessel under a new agreement established in 2024, which stipulates the construction of three additional corvettes for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Navy currently operates five Avante 2200 vessels, which were acquired in 2022 and delivered in 2024.
In accordance with the recent contract, the first corvette will be constructed in Spain, while the other two will be fabricated within Saudi Arabia. The three new vessels are projected to be finalized by 2028, with Navantia facilitating up to 2,000 local job opportunities and training 100 personnel within the nation throughout the endeavor.
The Avante 2200 Corvette
Engineered for diverse naval functions, including maritime surveillance, rescue missions, and fleet support, the Avante 2200-class corvette spans 99 meters in length, boasts a 14-meter beam, and can house over 90 crew members along with a maritime helicopter.
Its armament consists of a 76mm naval cannon, a 35mm close-in weapon system, 12.7mm machine guns, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. Fueled by four diesel engines producing over 5,500 horsepower each, the vessel can achieve speeds of 24 knots (44 km/h) and has an operational range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km).
While akin to the current Saudi fleet, the new corvettes will incorporate enhanced capabilities for safeguarding strategic assets and executing intelligence, anti-submarine, anti-air, anti-surface, and electronic warfare operations. The initiative also encompasses integrated logistics support and crew training.
As a component of the program, Navantia will partner with the Spanish Navy to perform operational evaluations of the warship at Rota Naval Base in Cádiz.
