Navantia, the Spanish defense company, has officially begun construction on the seventh Avante 2200-class corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Force at its San Fernando shipyard.
This milestone comes three months after work started on the first vessel under a new contract signed in 2024, which calls for the development of three additional corvettes for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Navy already operates five Avante 2200 ships, which were ordered in 2022 and delivered in 2024.
Under the latest agreement, the first corvette will be built in Spain, while the remaining two will be constructed in Saudi Arabia. The three new ships are expected to be completed by 2028, with Navantia supporting up to 2,000 local jobs and training 100 personnel in the country throughout the project.
The Avante 2200 Corvette
Designed for a variety of naval operations, including maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and fleet support, the Avante 2200-class corvette measures 99 meters in length, has a 14-meter beam, and can accommodate over 90 personnel along with a maritime helicopter.
Its armament includes a 76mm naval gun, a 35mm close-in weapon system, 12.7mm machine guns, anti-ship missiles, and torpedoes. Powered by four diesel engines delivering over 5,500 horsepower each, the vessel can reach speeds of 24 knots (44 km/h) and has an operational range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km).
While similar to the existing Saudi fleet, the new corvettes will feature upgraded capabilities for protecting strategic assets and conducting intelligence, anti-submarine, anti-air, anti-surface, and electronic warfare missions. The project also includes integrated logistics support and crew training.
As part of the program, Navantia will collaborate with the Spanish Navy to conduct operational testing of the warship at Rota Naval Base in Cádiz.
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