Saudi-Spanish corvette deal on the cards
Saudi Arabia's crown prince meets the Spanish king in Madrid on 5 April as he continues his global diplomatic charm offensive in a bid to project a new liberal image of his conservative kingdom.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman's trip to Spain comes hot on the heels of a two-day official visit to France and after a tour lasting several weeks of the United States, Britain and Egypt, where the self-styled moderniser signed multimillion-dollar deals.
According to Spain's El Pais daily, he is due to sign a contract to buy five warships from Spain for €2 billion ($2.4 billion), as well as other bilateral agreements.
Rights groups have denounced the planned sale - which has been under negotiation for two years - saying the corvettes could be used in Saudi Arabia's military campaign in Yemen.
The Royal Saudi Navy operates a range of capable naval platforms, including three 4,700t Al Riyadh-class frigates (pictured).
Spain and Saudi Arabia's royal families retain close ties due to King Felipe VI's father Juan Carlos, who was a close friend of the kingdom's late King Fahd, who reigned from 1982 to 2005, and is close to his brother King Salman.
Juan Carlos was credited with playing a decisive role in 2011 in helping a Spanish consortium win a contract worth €6.7 billion ($8.2 billion) to build a high-speed railway linking the cities of Mecca and Medina.
Spain is currently the seventh largest arms exporter in the world.
More from Naval Warfare
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.
-
Keel laid for third Hellenic Navy frigate as harbour trials start for first
On 24 March 2022, Greece and Naval Group have signed a contract for three defence and intervention (FDI) frigates. Two warships will be due for delivery in 2025 and the third expected the following year, with the deal including an option to add a fourth frigate to be ready in 2027.