The new order follows five corvettes built between 2019 and 2024. Construction is taking place at Navantia’s San Fernando and Puerto Real yards in the Bay of Cádiz, with delivery of the final vessel scheduled for 2029.
“Launching one ship every four months is in line with the industrial schedule established for the programme and reflects the commitment of Navantia’s workforce to the customer,” said Ricardo Domínguez, Navantia’s chairman. “Your dedication, experience and professional excellence allow us to say with confidence that Navantia is rigorously fulfilling the commitments it has undertaken.”
Navantia will deliver the first ship of the new batch in Spain, while the second and third will go to Saudi Arabia for combat-system work. The fourth and fifth corvettes under the earlier contract followed the same approach.
“From today, a new chapter begins: the integration of her systems, testing, sea trials, training, and the road toward full operational readiness,” said Vice Admiral Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Ghuraybi, chief of staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. “And one day, HMS NEOM will leave these shores and set her course toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Navantia estimates the contract will generate approximately four million working hours and support an average of 2,200 skilled jobs a day in the Bay of Cádiz. More than 20 subcontractors and 50 suppliers from several countries will participate.
An agreement between the Saudi and Spanish navies covers integrated logistics support, crew training and operational evaluation by the Spanish Navy at Rota Naval Base. Navantia will provide support during that period and carry out work during the corvettes’ dry-docking periods in San Fernando.
The new vessels will be identical to the first batch, based on Navantia’s Avante 2200 design. Their missions include maritime surveillance, search and rescue, protection of strategic assets, intelligence gathering and anti-submarine, anti-air, anti-surface and electronic warfare.
The ships will carry the HAZEM combat system supplied through the SAMINavantia joint venture, HERMESYS communications and DORNA fire control. Other Navantia equipment includes the integrated platform management system and MINERVA integrated bridge.
