In a new major milestone for Saudi Arabia’s Sarawat Program, Navantia – a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding enterprise – laid the keel for the eighth corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) at the company’s San Fernando shipyard.
Go Deeper: During a keel-laying ceremony on Thursday, Navantia announced the commencement of the construction of the HMS AlUla, as part of the second series of three Avante 2200-class multi-mission combat corvettes for the RSNF.
Three Advanced Corvettes
By The Numbers: The three vessels – HMS AlUla, HMS AlMadinah, and HMS Neom – are already out of the workshops and deliveries are scheduled through to 2029, according to a press release.
Navantia is responsible for delivering the first corvette, while the completion of the second and third corvettes will take place in the Kingdom, including the installation, integration, and testing of their advanced combat systems.
The Big Picture: These three vessels represent the second phase of the Sarawat Program. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Spain’s Navantia in mid-December 2024 to acquire and supply these vessels, following the successful conclusion of the Program’s first phase, with the construction and delivery of five combat ships to the RSNF.
The contract also features an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package and comprehensive crew training, alongside an operational evaluation period by the Spanish Navy at Rota Naval Base, where Navantia will provide support services.
Under the contract, Navantia will train around one hundred Saudi engineers.
Backstory: On June 18, the RSNF launched the second phase of the Sarawat Program by floating its first ship, HMS AlMadinah, at Navantia’s shipyard in San Fernando.
Sarawat Program
Why It Matters: The Sarawat Program prioritizes the localization of ship manufacturing and military naval technology industries in Saudi Arabia by harnessing the skills of Saudi technical workforce.
In parallel, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) drives the Program’s technological independence through the development of the “HAZEM” naval combat management system and its integration with weapon systems, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Equipped with cutting-edge combat systems and technologies, the Program’s advanced corvettes will bolster the RSNF’s capabilities to counter multi-domain threats such as aerial, surface, and sub-surface threats, while also monitoring the maritime domain and protecting the Kingdom’s vital interests and strategic assets.
