Navantia Unveils Third Cutting-Edge Corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Force from Cádiz Shipyard

Navantia delivered this Sunday to the Royal Saudi Naval Force (RSNF) the third of five corvettes constructed in its shipyards in the Bay of Cadiz, construction 548, designated HAIL, during a ceremony held at the San Fernando facilities. The commissioning of the next two corvettes will occur in Saudi Arabia.

The delivery ceremony was graced by the presence of the commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Force, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily; the Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Mrs. Reyes Maroto; the president of Navantia, Mr. Ricardo Domínguez; and SAMI Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Mohammad Alkahtani.

The mayoress of San Fernando, Mrs. Patricia Cavada; the ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Spain, Azzam bin Abdulkarim al Qain; the Director of the National Security Department, Miguel Ángel Ballesteros; the chief of Procurement (DiGAM) from the Ministry of Defence, Aniceto Rosique; and the Chief Admiral of Logistical Support (AJAL) of the Spanish Navy, Ricardo Hernández, amongst other dignitaries, were also present at the event.

Navantia has successfully delivered HMS HAIL to the Royal Saudi Navy three years after beginning steel cutting (September 2019), thereby fulfilling rigorous quality standards and timelines. HAIL stands out as one of the most competitive and proficient vessels in its class, as demonstrated during the sea trials conducted in the waters of the Bay of Cádiz.

During the ceremony, conducted in line with military protocol, a Joint Inspection Commission (RSNF and Navantia) boarded the corvette for the compulsory inspection. Upon conclusion, the vessel’s flag was hoisted, followed by the RSNF transferring command of the corvette to the Commanding Officer of HMS HAIL. The president of Navantia presented Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily with the ship’s bell as a symbolic gift.

Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily emphasized, “This is one of the most illustrious and historic occasions for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces as His Majesty Ship HAIL raises the Saudi flag for the first time and embarks on its long and faithful service to the nation.” “HMAS HAIL, along with the rest of its class, was designed and constructed to be among the most technologically advanced and formidable corvettes to meet national requirements, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.”

He stated that the Alsarawat project “has emerged as the largest collaboration in the defense sector between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Spain, aiding in the enhancement of the strategic relationship between both nations. Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily lauded Navantia’s commitment to the project, along with the PMO organization, Spanish Navy, and other partners.

At the ceremony, Spain’s Minister of Industry, Mrs. Reyes Maroto, remarked that:

“The commissioning of this corvette signifies a new milestone in the relations between our two nations, which have been strengthened in recent years due to the trust that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed in the state-owned entity Navantia.” “The MoU signed recently fortifies this trust and represents a significant stride for Navantia’s shipyards in the Bay of Cadiz.”

The president of Navantia, Mr. Ricardo Dominguez, expressed gratitude to all participants and workers involved in the program. “It is due to your efforts that Navantia’s reputation is established across the globe,” he remarked, also acknowledging the support from the Spanish Navy and Government.

He further articulated that with the Avante 2200 program, Navantia is demonstrating its capacity to “deliver cutting-edge complex vessels within strict timelines while adhering to the highest quality standards, as well as transferring technology and providing advanced services.” “Achieving this highly technological initiative has undoubtedly reinforced client confidence,” he added.

SAMI CTO Mohammad Alkahtani remarked, “This is a monumental day for both nations; it culminates the robust collaboration between the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and its ally: Navantia, SAMI, and SAMINavantia, who are fostering capabilities in Saudi Arabia to meet RSNF’s requirements.”

Lastly, Navantia’s director of Corvettes and Maritime Action Vessels, José Antonio Rodríguez Poch, underscored the significant support from the Spanish Navy to the program and highlighted the historic accomplishment of delivering three ships in one year while commending the dedication of all contributors to the initiative.

Avante 2200 Programme

The corvette HAIL features a length of 104 meters, a beam of 14 meters, accommodating a total of 102 personnel, including crew and passengers. The contract for the construction of five corvettes became effective in November 2018, and since the launch of the first unit (July 2020), Navantia has successfully launched all five units with a four-month interval between each, achieving this remarkable milestone in just three years. Deliveries are occurring shortly after three years from the cutting of the first plate for each vessel.

The corvettes are built based on the AVANTE 2200 design, customized to meet the RSNF’s specifications, offering superior performance, excellent operational capability at sea, high survivability, and the ability to function in extreme temperatures.

Simultaneously, around 500 crew members of these corvettes are undergoing the education and training process at the Navantia Training Center (NTC) in San Fernando.

In addition to the corvette contract, Navantia has partnered with SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries) to establish a joint venture in Saudi Arabia, an alliance that positions Navantia’s integrated systems and advanced technological solutions in the Arab market and its area of influence, aligning with the company’s international expansion strategy.

The contract entails a global workload of approximately seven million hours and 6,000 jobs over five years. Of these, more than 1,100 are direct employees, over 1,800 industry collaborators (with more than a hundred companies participating in the program), and more than 3,000 indirect jobs generated by other suppliers.

The program includes, in addition to construction, Lifecycle Support for five years following the delivery of the first vessel, with an option for an additional five years. The last vessel must be delivered in 2024.

It also encompasses the provision of various services, such as integrated logistics support, operational and maintenance training, establishment of Education and Training Centers for the Combat System and Platform Control System of vessels, Lifecycle Support, and ship maintenance systems at the Jeddah Naval Base.