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
-
![US turns to allies to tackle navy shipbuilding backlog]()
US turns to allies to tackle navy shipbuilding backlog
A White House memorandum acknowledges US Navy shipbuilding backlogs and a weakened industrial base, opening a formal path for South Korean and Japanese yards to help rebuild capacity.
-
![US Navy’s $275 billion BBGN plan hinges on shipyard transformation]()
US Navy’s $275 billion BBGN plan hinges on shipyard transformation
The US Navy’s planned nuclear-powered warship carries a US$275 billion price tag, but the greater story lies in the industrial overhaul needed to build it, from AI-enabled design to digital twins and modular construction.
-
![Industry sees opportunity in Australia’s shift to networked undersea warfare]()
Industry sees opportunity in Australia’s shift to networked undersea warfare
Australia’s new defence innovation strategy indicates a shift from platform-centric to network-centric undersea warfare, with Ocius and Anduril Industries pointing to fast-growing opportunities for local industry.
-
![Asia-Pacific emerges as the largest export market for US-made USVs]()
Asia-Pacific emerges as the largest export market for US-made USVs
Asian customers have placed one of the largest known international purchases of US-built uncrewed surface vessels, highlighting accelerating regional demand for autonomous maritime capabilities and distributed naval operations.
