Navantia Unveils Fifth Saudi Corvette Amidst the Scenic Bay of Cádiz

This Saturday, at its shipyard in the Bay of Cádiz, Navantia inaugurated the fifth corvette crafted for the Royal Saudi Navy (RSNF), named Unayzah, in tribute to this city situated north of the nation’s capital.

The gathering, hosted at the San Fernando shipyard, saw the participation of the Commander of the Royal Saudi Navy, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily; the Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez; the General Secretary for Industry and SMEs, Raül Blanco; and Navantia’s chairman, Ricardo Domínguez. Admiral General Antonio Martorell Lacave, Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, along with Walid Abukhaled, the CEO of SAMI (Saudi Arabia Military Industries), connected via video. The launching celebration was conducted with health safety protocols in place and was attended by Navantia staff and their families.

The ceremony commenced with a recitation of the Koran, followed by several video presentations: one about the city of Unayzah, which honors the ship’s name, another on the Avante 2200 program, and a third concerning the assembly of this fifth corvette. José Antonio Rodriguez Poch, the Director of the Corvettes and Maritime Action Vessel Business, welcomed the attendees and acknowledged the dedication of the workers involved in the program, as well as those who ensured the launch preparations were complete.

In his address, the Royal Saudi Navy Commander emphasized that the launch of five corvettes under such a tight and demanding timeline represents a significant achievement and a clear indication of Navantia’s dedication to fulfilling each project milestone with superior quality standards.

The Vice Admiral expressed heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their unwavering support for the RSNF. He also conveyed his gratitude to the chairman of Navantia and the Navy Chief of Staff for the invaluable contribution of the Spanish Navy towards the success of this initiative. Furthermore, he addressed the crew who will assume command of the ship post-commissioning, underscoring the immense responsibility they carry to set standards for this new class of vessels.

The chairman of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez, extended his gratitude to the team involved in the construction of a ship “with outstanding features and adhering to the specified timelines, despite numerous challenges.”

“Colleagues from Navantia and partnering industries, I sincerely appreciate each of you; your efforts have enabled us to celebrate the launch of this corvette. This event is a testament to the exceptional work of our team. It is not always straightforward to visualize the outcome of such diligent efforts,” he remarked.

“You are the key players in today’s event,” Ricardo Domínguez stated, reiterating his “full commitment to the future of this Shipyard and the industrial environment of the Bay of Cádiz.”

Moreover, he expressed gratitude to the Spanish Navy, the Royal Saudi Navy, and the Defence Ministries of both nations for their ongoing support in ensuring the program’s success. “Spain and Saudi Arabia are bound by robust and enduring connections, and given the critical nature of international collaboration today, strengthening an established partnership is the optimal way to confront present and future challenges,” stated the chairman of Navantia, adding that the company, recognized globally for its quality and technology, will serve as the most dependable partner for forthcoming projects.

The Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez, congratulated the teams who made the construction of the five corvettes attainable: “They are a point of pride for all of you, showcasing the strong technological prowess of Spain and the competitiveness of the Spanish Defence industry, which you embody so excellently. This is also a distinct representation of the Spain brand,” he commented.

“We take immense pride in this program and in the five corvettes we have crafted here, as they are a beacon of Spain’s solid technological capabilities,” asserted the Secretary of State.

Admiral Martorell Lacave underscored his personal commitment, along with that of the Spanish Navy to the project and expressed appreciation for “the trust that the Royal Saudi Navy has placed in the Spanish Navy for overseeing the execution of this innovative naval initiative.”

“Thus far, all segments of this vital naval program have thrived, including the essential operational training, wherein the Spanish Navy has taken a particularly active role, along with the instruction of future crews, and the assessment of advanced equipment and intricate systems,” he continued. Admiral Martorell Lacave also expressed gratitude to all personnel engaged in the program for their efforts to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on execution.

For his part, the CEO of SAMI articulated his pride in the achievements the company has realized through its strategic collaborations with RSNF and Navantia. These successes culminated in the creation of the Unayzah vessel, the last of the five Avante 2200 corvettes. “We take pride in the numerous accomplishments this program has yielded, including the establishment of SAMINavantia, the introduction of HAZEM, the inaugural 100% Saudi naval combat management system developed through technology transfer, and the initiation of an on-the-job training program, attended by 21 Saudi engineers, both male and female.”

“The successful realization of this project marks a pivotal advancement in SAMI’s mission to enhance Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in maritime technology systems and to bolster the country’s defense ecosystem,” he concluded.

The ceremony reached its conclusion when Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily cut the ribbon, leading to the ‘Unayzah’ corvette, after receiving the ceremonial impact of the bottle with water from Mecca, gracefully sliding down the stands into the water for the first time. Work on the corvette will persist afloat until its delivery in Spain, anticipated for August 2023. The vessel will be finalized in Saudi Arabia and is set to be delivered by February 2024.

During his visit, Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily toured the San Fernando shipyard and the Navantia Training Center (NTC), a facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology where sailors and corvette maintainers receive training. Additionally, he explored the ground training equipment (Land Based Training Site, LBTS) and the simulators at Navantia Sistemas.

The Avante 2200 Programme

The corvette ‘Unayzah’ is the fifth in the series forming the Avante 2200 program. It measures 104 meters in length, has a beam of 14 meters, and will accommodate a total of 102 individuals, including crew and passengers.

Designed with cutting-edge technology, the corvettes maximize Navantia’s involvement by integrating company products such as the CATIZ combat system, the HERMESYS integrated communications system, the DORNA fire direction control, the Integrated Platform Control System, and the MINERVA integrated bridge, along with other equipment developed under license, such as MTU engines and RENK gearboxes.

This contract, active since November 2018, fortifies the immediate future of Navantia and positively impacts all the company’s shipyards and subcontractors, particularly in the Bay of Cádiz.

It signifies a global workload of approximately seven million hours that, translated into jobs, will amount to 6,000 annually for the next five years. Of these, over 1,100 will be direct employees, more than 1,800 from Navantia’s Auxiliary Industry, and more than 3,000 indirect jobs created by subcontractors. Over 100 additional companies collaborate in the program.

The contract encompasses not only construction but also five years of Life Cycle Support from the delivery of the first vessel, with the option for an additional five years.

It also includes various services such as integrated logistics support, operational and maintenance training, provision of Training and Training Centers for the Combat System and Platform Control System, the aforementioned Life Cycle Support, and ship maintenance systems for the Jeddah Naval Base.