Navantia delivers the first corvette to the Royal Saudi Naval Force
Navantia will deliver next Thursday, March 31st, the first of five Avante 2200 corvettes ordered by the Royal Saudi Naval Force (RSNF) in a ceremony that will be held at the Spanish Navy’s base in San Fernando (Cádiz).
The delivery ceremony of the vessel 546, named AL-JUBAIL, will be attended by the Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily; the Admiral Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy (AJEMA), Antonio Martorell Lacave and Navantia’s Chairman, Ricardo Domínguez. The Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez; the Secretary General for Industry and SMEs, Raül Blanco and Mayoress of San Fernando, Patricia Cavada, among other guests, will be also present.
The corvette AL-JUBAIL will be delivered to the Saudi Navy in approximately three years since the cutting of its first steel plate (January 2019) and after having successfully passed the sea trials carried out in the waters of the Bay of Cadiz over the last months. These trials have verified the proper functioning of both the platform and the various systems, with the aim of demonstrating compliance with the requirements specified in the ship's contract.
After the delivery, the training of the crew, which has been taking place in Spanish Navy premises and in Navantia Training Centre, will continue onboard in the Bay of Cádiz.
The corvette AL-JUBAIL is 104 meters long, has a beam of 14 meters and can carry a total 102 crew and passengers.
The contract for the construction of five corvettes came into force in November 2018 and, since the launching of this first unit (in July 2020), Navantia has already launched the five units with a cadence of four months between each of them, which means achieving this milestone in a record time of three years.
The corvettes are based on the AVANTE 2200 design, adapted to the requirements of RSNF, offering advanced performance, excellent seakeeping, high survivability and capability to operate in extreme high temperatures such as in the Gulf area.
While the ships are being built, around 500 crew members of these corvettes will complete the training process at the Navantia Training Centre (NTC) in San Fernando.
Besides the corvettes contract, Navantia agreed with SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries) the creation of a joint venture in Saudi Arabia. This alliance benefits NAVANTIA and allows boosting the defense programs in the country, reinforcing its economy. This joint venture is an exceptional opportunity for Navantia to position its integrated systems and technologically advanced solutions in the Arab market and its area of influence, and it is in line with the Company's internationalization strategy.
The design of the corvettes is state-of-the-art, maximizing Navantia's participation through the incorporation of its own products, such as the CATIZ combat system, the HERMESYS integrated communications system, the DORNA fire control system, the Integrated Platform Control System and the MINERVA integrated bridge, together with other equipment developed by Navantia under license, such as the MTU engines or the RENK gearboxes.
The program, whose last vessel is due for delivery in 2024, includes, in addition to construction, Life Cycle Support for five years from the delivery of the first vessel, with an option for an additional five years.
It also includes the provision of various services, such as integrated logistics support, operational and maintenance training, provision of Training and Education Centers for the Combat System and Platform Control System of the ships, Life Cycle Support and systems for the maintenance of the ships at the Jeddah Naval Base.
