TSAMTO, December 6. Navantia has announced the transfer to the command of the Saudi Arabian Navy of the third (out of five ordered) Avante-2200 class corvette, (832) "Hail" (Hail).
The event, which took place on December 4 at the Navantia enterprise in San Fernando (Cadiz), was attended by the commander of the Saudi Arabian Navy, Vice Admiral Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Gofaili.
Navantia delivered the Hail corvette to the Saudi Arabian Navy three years after the start of steel cutting for the construction of the ship (September 2019). During the tests, the corvette demonstrated compliance with all the requirements imposed by the customer.
As reported by TSAMTO, in July 2018, Navantia announced the signing of a contract with the government of Saudi Arabia for the construction of five corvettes within the ALSARAWAT project, the cost of which is 1.8 billion. euro ($2.1 billion). The Agreement entered into force in November 2018. The corvettes are being built on the basis of the Avante-2200 project, adapted to the requirements of the Saudi Arabian Navy.
As part of the agreement, Navantia also formed a joint venture in Saudi Arabia with the Saudi state-owned company SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries). It will offer integrated Navantia systems and technologically advanced solutions in the Saudi Arabian market. With the support of Navantia, SAMI intends to develop a national combat control system under the designation HAZEM.
Most of the work on the construction of ships is carried out in Spain. Steel cutting for the lead corvette, (828) "El Jubail", began in January 2019. It was handed over to the command of the Saudi Arabian Navy on March 31, 2022. The transfer to the customer of the second corvette of the series, (830) "Al Diriyah" (Al Diriyah), took place on July 26, 2022
Currently, two more ships are at various stages of construction, including (834) "Jizan" (Jazan) and (836) "Unayza" (Unayzah). The fifth corvette of the series was launched in December 2021. The ship should be delivered to the customer in 2024.
In accordance with the terms of the deal, the completion of the last two ships will be carried out in Saudi Arabia. In addition, Navantia will be responsible for the maintenance of ships for five years from the date of delivery of the first corvette. The option provides for the extension of maintenance work for another five years.
On November 30, 2022, representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia, the General Directorate of the Military Industry of Saudi Arabia GAMI (General Authority for Military Industries) and Navantia signed a memorandum of understanding, according to which Navantia, together with a Saudi shipbuilding company, will design and build five new multi-purpose warships for the Saudi Navy. As planned, this document will be finalized into a contract in 2023.
The length of the El Jubail class corvette is 104 m, the maximum width is 14 m. It is equipped with MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH engines, develops a maximum speed of 27 knots, autonomy – 21 days. The crew and additional personnel on board are 102 people. The ship's armament includes a 76/62-mm Super Rapid artillery system manufactured by Leonardo Group, a 35-mm Millennium rocket launcher from Rheinmetall, a VPU with a missile defense system, as well as other systems.
In addition to the CATIZ SBU, the corvettes will receive a DORNA fire control system developed by Navantia, an integrated Platform Control system, an integrated NAVCOMS/HERMESYS external and internal communication system, an integrated MINERVA bridge, engines and gearboxes.
