According to information published by the Saudi Gazette on October 29, 2024, Saudi Arabia and Spain have formalized an agreement to construct three new multi-mission combat corvette ships. The agreement, signed by Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Gharibi, Chief of Staff of the Saudi Naval Forces, and Lieutenant General Antonio Pinero Sanchez, Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, in Madrid, marks the next phase of the Sarawat Project—a Saudi initiative aimed at enhancing the operational readiness of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF).
The Avante 2200 corvettes, known in Saudi Arabia as the Al Jubail-class, represent a substantial milestone in the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) modernization program. Built by the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia under a €1.8 billion contract, these vessels align closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting local defense industry capabilities through a partnership with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) to produce and maintain advanced naval technologies.
Each Avante 2200 corvette is a multi-role vessel spanning 104 meters in length, with a beam of 14 meters, and a displacement of approximately 2,470 tons. Equipped to handle various naval warfare tasks—anti-submarine (ASW), anti-air (AAW), and anti-surface warfare (ASuW)—the corvettes feature a Leonardo Super Rapid 76mm main gun, an eight-cell vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, and Rheinmetall’s Millennium 35mm close-in weapon system.