Saudi Navy’s first Avante 2200 corvette enters service

The Avante 2200 corvette Al-Jubail, the first of five corvettes to be built for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), has been commissioned.

The commissioning ceremony was held today (31 March) at the Spanish Navy’s Naval Station of La Carraca in San Fernando. The vessel was launched in July 2020, while the sea trials began in September 2021.

Al Jubail features a length of 104 meters, a beam of 14 meters and will be able to accommodate 102 people. It can reach a maximum speed of 27 knots and has the capacity to carry 21-day supplies on board.

The Avante 2200 corvettes are built by SAMI Navantia Naval Industries (SAMINavantia), a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia.

Specifically, the vessels incorporate Navantia’s products, such as the CATIZ Combat System, DORNA Gun Fire Control System, NAVCOMS/HERMESYS Integrated External and Internal Communications System, MINERVA Integrated Navigation and Bridge System, or COMPLEX-SIMPLEX Integrated Platform Management Platform

They also include equipment manufactured together by Navantia under license such as the Leonardo SUPER RAPID 76mm main gun, Rheinmetall Air Defence MILLENNIUM 35mm close-in weapon system, MTU propulsion engines and diesel generators, and RENK gearboxes.

Recently, Navantia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Zamil Offshore Service Company to provide services for Avante 2200 corvettes in Saudi Arabia.