Spanish defense contractor Navantia has marked a significant milestone in its collaboration with the Royal Saudi Naval Force by cutting the steel for the seventh Avante 2200-class corvette at its San Fernando shipyard. This ceremony, which indicates the formal commencement of the vessel’s construction, comes just three months after the launch of the program’s first corvette.
The initiative encompasses not just the construction of the vessels but also integrated logistics support and crew training services. Navantia will work closely with the Spanish Navy to carry out an operational evaluation of the warship, which will take place at the Rota Naval Base in Cádiz. This partnership is expected to ensure that the corvette meets operational needs and standards before being delivered to the Saudi fleet.
The construction effort is part of a broader contract signed by Riyadh in 2024, which calls for the development of three additional Avante 2200 ships for the Saudi navy. Presently, the Saudi Arabian Navy operates five vessels of this class, which were acquired in 2022 and delivered to Saudi Arabia in 2024. Under the latest agreement, the first of the new corvettes will be constructed in Spain, while the remaining two will transition to completion within Saudi Arabia. The final delivery of these three ships is anticipated to be completed by 2028, with Navantia facilitating approximately 2,000 local jobs and providing training for 100 individuals throughout the program.
The Avante 2200 warship itself is designed for a variety of missions, including maritime traffic surveillance, search and rescue operations, and support for other vessels. It measures 99 meters (approximately 325 feet) in length and has a beam of 14 meters (about 46 feet), accommodating more than 90 personnel alongside space for a maritime helicopter. The vessel’s armament configuration includes a 76-millimeter naval cannon, a 35-millimeter close-in weapon system, 12.7-millimeter machine guns, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes.
In terms of propulsion, the Avante 2200 is equipped with four combined diesel engines, each producing over 5,500 horsepower, enabling it to reach speeds of 24 knots (approximately 44 kilometers or 28 miles per hour) and providing a range of 3,500 nautical miles (around 6,482 kilometers or 4,028 miles). While the new ships will share similarities with the initial batch of Avante corvettes, they will feature enhanced capabilities specifically aimed at the defense of strategic assets, as well as improved intelligence, anti-submarine, anti-air, anti-surface, and electronic warfare functionalities. This comprehensive enhancement aims to strengthen the operational prowess of the Royal Saudi Naval Force as it modernizes its fleet.
