Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has launched HMS Almadinah, the sixth Avante 2200-model corvette built for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), at its San Fernando shipyard.
HMS Almadinah is the first out of three additional corvettes under a follow-on contract placed in December 2024, coming after the first five corvettes already in service with the RSNF.
Its launch comes about a month after Navantia laid the keel for the seventh corvette, HMS Neom, in May.
The December 2024 contract outlines how the first ship will be constructed in Spain, while the remaining two will be completed in Saudi Arabia.
It covers an integrated logistics support package, crew training, support services, and an operational evaluation period by the Spanish Navy at the Rota Naval Base.
“We are proud that, throughout both series of corvettes, all vessels have been delivered on time, within budget and in full alignment with our localisation commitments to the Kingdom, especially with GAMI,” said Ricardo Domínguez, Navantia Chairman.
Saudi Arabia’s Avante 2200 Corvettes
Saudi Arabia’s corvettes, based on Navantia’s Avante 2200, are known as the Al Jubail-class in the Gulf Kingdom.
The multi-purpose vessels are primarily designed for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and intelligence gathering, while featuring combat capabilities to defend strategic assets.
To ensure operational readiness, Riyadh contracted Navantia in June to provide long-term maintenance services for the first corvette series, which includes sending more technicians to a naval base in Jeddah, spare parts, and a localization plan to increase sustainment capacity.
