Navantia Unveils Second State-of-the-Art Corvette for Saudi Arabia’s Naval Fleet

On Tuesday, Navantia successfully launched the second of the five corvettes constructed for the Royal Saudi Navy Forces (RSNF) at its shipyards in the Bay of Cadiz. The vessel, numbered 547 and named AL-DIRIYAH, was showcased during a ceremony at its San Fernando facilities.

The event was presided over by Navantia’s Chairman and CEO, Ricardo Dominguez, and featured attendance from RSNF commander, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily; SAMI CEO, Mr. Walid Abukhaled; Spanish Secretary of State for Defense, Ms. María Amparo Valcarce; Spanish Navy Procurement Director, Admiral Aniceto Rosique, along with various local dignitaries.

AL-DIRIYAH has been presented to the Royal Saudi Navy three years post its initial steel cut in May 2019, adhering to strict timelines amidst the health crisis and international supply challenges. This corvette stands as one of the most advanced and proficient ships within its category, as confirmed by successful sea trials conducted in the Bay of Cadiz.

The commissioning ceremony adhered to military customs. An inspection team consisting of RSNF and Navantia representatives boarded the corvette to execute the obligatory examination. Ultimately, the ship’s flag was hoisted, after which command was officially transferred over to the Commander of AL-DIRIYAH. As a ceremonial gesture, Navantia’s Chairman presented Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily with the ship’s bell.

During the occasion, Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily emphasized that “Alsarawat and other RSNF ambitious acquisition initiatives reflect the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ strong allegiance to achieve the strategic objectives outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by establishing a transformative era of advanced and efficient Naval capabilities that address current and future challenges, bolstering the strength of the domestic military industry”.

He accentuated that the commissioning signifies a pivotal and consequential juncture in the ship’s manufacturing timeline, which spanned 38 months, during which cutting-edge technologies were integrated into her construction and combat systems. Since January, the vessel has undergone rigorous sea evaluations to ensure it is fully prepared tocarry out its designated missions, safeguarding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its interests. He further mentioned that this remarkable feat “is a testament to Navantia’s prowess and its commitment to achieving significant success in the Alsarawat project.”

The esteemed Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily conveyed his “heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, along with His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman, Deputy Minister of Defense, may God protect them all, for the unwavering support they consistently provide to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.”

The Spanish Secretary of State for Defense remarked that “this vessel exemplifies the exceptional quality of Spanish shipyards and symbolizes the fruitful industrial and commercial collaboration between our nations, which has sustained economic activity for over a hundred companies and created 6,000 jobs in the Bay of Cadiz.” She concluded with, “To the corvette AL-DIRIYAH, may her officers and crew experience peace, favorable seas, and gentle winds.”

Mr. Ricardo Dominguez expressed sincere thanks for “the input and teamwork of everyone involved in this remarkable endeavor carried out by the shipyard, delivering cutting-edge products and services, thereby showcasing the company’s capabilities to the world.”

“Saudi Arabia has entrusted Navantia with delivering a crucial capability to fulfill the nation’s strategic goals in marine domains, and Navantia stands ready to further enrich and support initiatives aimed at developing a local naval shipbuilding capacity, as a reliable and trustworthy partner,” he stated.

José Antonio Rodríguez Poch, Navantia’s corvettes program director, also expressed appreciation to the workforce, auxiliary and support industries, the Navy, and classification societies for their vital contributions to the program’s success.