Navantia hands over first Al Jubail-class corvette to Saudi navy
Al Jubail was delivered to the RSNF on 31 March 2022. (Photo: Navantia)
Al Jubail was handed over to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces a little over three years since first steel was cut, and the new corvette will be commissioned into service in March 2023.
Spain-based shipbuilder Navantia announced on 31 March that it has officially handed over the first of five Avante 2200 corvettes to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), in a ceremony in Cadiz.
The first-in-class vessel, named Al Jubail, was handed over some 38 months after first steel was cut in January 2019. Al Jubail will be commissioned into the RSNF in March 2023.
The initial contract for five Al Jubail-class corvettes was signed in 2018 for €1.8 billion ($2 billion).
Navantia on 4 December announced the launch of the fifth and final Avante 2200 corvette, Unayzah.
Work on the corvette will continue in Spain before its scheduled completion in Saudi Arabia after August 2023.
Unayzah will be delivered to the RSNF in February 2024.
The fourth and five corvettes will be finalised and delivered in Saudi Arabia, with the SAMINavantia JV completing installation, integration, and test of the complete Hazem combat system.
Other SAMINavantia-provided features on the Al Jubail-class include the Hermesys integrated communications system, Dorna fire control system, an Integrated Platform Control System and the Minerva integrated bridge, together with other equipment developed by Navantia under licence, such as MTU engines and Renk gearboxes.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Avante 2200 (1-5) [Saudi Arabia]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![UK MoD faces ‘serious’ ASW gap as Defence Committee outlines Arctic requirements]()
UK MoD faces ‘serious’ ASW gap as Defence Committee outlines Arctic requirements
Anti-submarine warfare, uncrewed vessels and seabed monitoring top the demand list in the Defence Committee’s High North roadmap for the 2030s.
-
![Autonomy gives Turkey a chance to outflank established naval shipbuilders]()
Autonomy gives Turkey a chance to outflank established naval shipbuilders
Turkish shipbuilders have sold ships from Asia to Europe, but autonomy and swarm technology could give them a fairer fight against Western European rivals.
-
![Canada assesses security equipment changes for Polar Icebreaker Imnaryuaq]()
Canada assesses security equipment changes for Polar Icebreaker Imnaryuaq
The Canadian Department of National Defence is evaluating communications and reconnaissance changes for CCGS Imnaryuaq’s expanded maritime security role, while retaining its 2032 acceptance target.
-
![All eyes on Royal Navy’s Type 93 market engagement as industry prepares bids]()
All eyes on Royal Navy’s Type 93 market engagement as industry prepares bids
Responses are due by 29 October as the Royal Navy tests the market, with BAE Systems’ Herne and MSubs’ Excalibur setting up a contest where payloads may decide the winner.
