Saudi Arabia and Spain have officially signed an agreement for the construction of three state-of-the-art multi-mission corvette ships, designed to enhance the operational capacities of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). The agreement was formalized in Madrid by Lieutenant General Mohammed Al-Gharibi, Chief of Staff of the Saudi Naval Forces, and his Spanish counterpart, Lieutenant General Antonio Pinero Sanchez, marking the latest development under the Sarawat Project, a significant Saudi initiative for defense modernization.
This venture further cements the growing strategic and defense partnership between Saudi Arabia and Spain, underpinned by Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to advance domestic defense manufacturing. The newly commissioned corvettes, known as the Al Jubail-class in Saudi Arabia, are part of the Avante 2200 series constructed by Spain’s defense leader Navantia under a contract valued at €1.8 billion.
Each Avante 2200 corvette is a multi-role combat vessel measuring 104 meters in length, with a beam of 14 meters and a displacement of approximately 2,470 tons. These corvettes are engineered to handle a wide range of naval missions, from anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-air (AAW) warfare to anti-surface warfare (ASuW). Notably, the corvettes are equipped with advanced weapons, including the Leonardo Super Rapid 76mm main gun, an eight-cell vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, and the Rheinmetall Millennium 35mm close-in weapon system.
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): The corvettes have torpedo launchers designed to protect Saudi Arabia’s waters from underwater threats, a crucial feature given the strategic importance of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.
- Anti-Air Warfare (AAW): Equipped with advanced vertical launch systems for surface-to-air missiles, the Al Jubail-class corvettes can intercept and neutralize aerial threats, safeguarding the country’s naval and offshore assets.
- Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW): For surface threats, the ships are armed with anti-ship missiles and machine guns, offering robust firepower against enemy vessels.
With these advanced capabilities, the corvettes will bolster RSNF’s capacity to operate across different warfare domains, enhancing defense and deterrence in the surrounding maritime zones. A helicopter deck designed to host 10-ton helicopters like the NH90 further augments their reach, allowing the corvettes to conduct reconnaissance, rescue, and combat support operations efficiently.
The Al Jubail-class corvettes employ a CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel) propulsion system, achieving speeds up to 27 knots and an impressive range of 4,500 nautical miles. This allows the vessels to undertake extended missions across the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, particularly in extreme temperature and challenging marine environments. Their onboard design and capacity to support up to 102 personnel further enhance their versatility for multi-day operations, ensuring that RSNF can remain responsive to any maritime security challenges.
An essential aspect of the Sarawat Project is its emphasis on technology transfer and local capacity building through the collaboration between Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) and Navantia. This partnership is integral to Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to localize 50% of the nation’s defense expenditure by the decade’s end. Through SAMI-Navantia’s joint efforts, Saudi Arabia is not only acquiring high-tech corvettes but also developing local expertise for their maintenance, operations, and upgrades.
Saudi engineers and technicians will receive specialized training on the ships’ intricate systems, including combat system testing and live-fire exercises, making RSNF personnel capable of handling complex, high-stakes naval operations. The training will ensure that the RSNF remains self-reliant, reducing dependency on foreign support for maintaining and upgrading the vessels over their lifecycle.
The collaboration has further led to the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Riyadh, aiming to serve as a hub for continued research, development, and integration of advanced combat systems. Specifically, the Center will focus on the HAZEM combat management system—a cutting-edge technology tailored to meet RSNF’s operational requirements. Besides supporting RSNF, the Center of Excellence will also explore potential avenues for exporting Saudi-made defense technologies to other countries in the Middle East.
The Sarawat Project is part of a broader defense alliance between Saudi Arabia and Spain, a relationship that has been bolstered by mutual interests in regional stability and security. Spain has emerged as Saudi Arabia’s fourth-largest defense partner, following the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Between 2015 and 2017 alone, Spain exported over $900 million in military equipment to Saudi Arabia, underscoring the depth of their defense trade relations.
Spain’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s defense ecosystem also aligns with Spain’s strategy to strengthen its economic and diplomatic presence in the Middle East. As both nations seek to diversify and strengthen their economies, this partnership in the defense sector has emerged as a mutually beneficial arrangement that enhances regional security while supporting domestic industry growth in both countries.
For Saudi Arabia, the addition of the Avante 2200 corvettes, or Al Jubail-class vessels, represents a significant advancement in the RSNF’s capabilities. The corvettes are equipped with technologies specifically designed to operate efficiently in Saudi waters, which often present challenges due to high temperatures and saline conditions. These vessels’ unique resilience and adaptability underscore their role in Saudi Arabia’s maritime security framework, allowing the country to maintain a strong presence in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.
Saudi Vision 2030 is a transformative agenda aiming to diversify the Kingdom’s economy away from oil dependency, with defense localization as a key pillar. By working with Navantia, SAMI is furthering Vision 2030’s objective of establishing a self-sufficient defense industry that will not only fulfill domestic needs but may also export products and technologies to other nations. This focus on the domestic defense industry under Vision 2030 has led to substantial growth in job opportunities for Saudi nationals and the development of a high-tech workforce skilled in the latest defense technologies.
Through these initiatives, Saudi Arabia is on course to become a significant player in the global defense market, especially within the Middle East. The SAMI-Navantia partnership, particularly the HAZEM combat system developed at the Center of Excellence, could pave the way for Saudi Arabia to join the ranks of advanced defense exporters. This collaboration is projected to attract more investment in defense technology, further stimulating Saudi Arabia’s economic landscape.
The signing of the Sarawat Project agreement between Saudi Arabia and Spain is a powerful reminder of how defense partnerships can advance broader diplomatic and economic goals. For Saudi Arabia, the corvettes will provide a tactical edge and contribute to a more self-reliant defense sector. Meanwhile, Spain’s strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia reinforces its standing as a leading defense supplier in the Middle East, demonstrating its commitment to promoting stability and security in a region with increasing strategic importance.
As the Sarawat Project unfolds, both Saudi Arabia and Spain will continue to benefit from this collaboration, which serves as a blueprint for defense cooperation that extends beyond traditional trade. Through shared training programs, advanced combat system development, and localized manufacturing, the Sarawat Project promises to be a transformative force in Saudi Arabia’s defense evolution and a testament to Spain’s growing influence in international defense industries.
In summary, the new corvettes’ advanced combat capabilities, coupled with SAMI’s localized production and maintenance support, reflect Saudi Arabia’s dedication to regional stability and Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and defense localization. As the Sarawat Project continues to progress, Saudi Arabia and Spain are set to redefine the parameters of international defense partnerships, combining military advancement with economic and technological empowerment.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to strengthen its naval force is also a strategic response to the complex security landscape in the Middle East. The Kingdom’s enhanced maritime capability will serve as a countermeasure against potential regional threats, safeguarding critical sea lanes and maritime assets. This move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s longstanding aim to act as a regional stabilizer, particularly in light of heightened geopolitical tensions.
By fortifying its naval power through the Al Jubail-class corvettes, Saudi Arabia sends a message of deterrence while reinforcing its commitment to protecting the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf from escalating threats. The Sarawat Project’s broader implications for regional security make it an essential initiative in the Gulf Cooperation Council’s collective defense strategy.
