Navantia has launched today the fifth corvette being built for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), named ‘Unayzah’ as a tribute to this city located north of capital of Saudi Arabia.
The event has been attended by the Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice-Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily; the Spanish Secretary of State for Trade, Xiana Méndez, the Secretary General for Industry and SMEs and the Chairman of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez. It has also included video interventions by the Admiral Chief of Staff of Spanish Navy, Admiral Antonio Martorell Lacave, and the CEO of SAMI (Saudi Arabia Military Industries), Walid Abukhaled.
Vice-Admiral Al-Ghofaily has pointed out that the successful launching of all the corvettes in such a short and challenging delivery schedule is a remarkable accomplishment and a clear indication of Navantia’s commitment to fulfill every milestone of the project with high standards of quality.
The Admiral Chief of Staff of Spanish Navy, Antonio Martorell Lacave, has underlined his personal commitment, and that of the Spanish Navy, with the project and has expressed his appreciation “for the confidence that the Royal Saudi Navy has placed in the Spanish Navy to supervise the execution of this ground-breaking naval program”.
“So far, all the areas of this important and far-reaching naval program have been successful, including the necessary operational training, where the Spanish Navy has been particularly involved, the instruction of the future crews and the assessment of the modern equipment and complex systems”, ha has said. Admiral Martorell Lacave has also thanked all the personnel involved in the program for their efforts to minimize the impact of the pandemic.
Navantia’s Chairman, Ricardo Dominguez, has highlighted that this program “has marked a historic milestone for Navantia and for the development of the cooperation between the shipbuilding industries, defence organizations and Navies of both countries”.
“Spain and Saudi Arabia have strong long-lasting links and nowadays, when international cooperation is paramount, we have to enhance our existing partnerships as the best course to face the present and future”, has said Ricardo Dominguez. “We are confident that being a leader in the sector and recognized internationally for our quality and technology, Navantia will be the most reliable partner for future upcoming projects”, he has said.
The Avante 2200 program
Corvette UNAYZAH is the fifth corvettes being built by Navantia in the Avante 2200 program. It has a length of 104 meters, a beam of 14 and will be able to transport a total of 102 people including crew and passengers.
The design of the corvettes is of the latest generation, maximizing the participation of Navantia by incorporating its own products, such as the CATIZ Combat System, the HERMESYS Integrated Communications System, the DORNA Firing Direction, the Integrated Platform Control System and the MINERVA Integrated Bridge, together with other equipment developed by Navantia under license, such as the MTU Engines or the RENK Reduction Gearboxes.
This program, whose last vessel must be delivered in 2024, includes, in addition to construction, Life Cycle Support for five years, from the delivery of the first vessel, with an option for another five years.
On the other hand, the contract also includes the supply of several services such as Integrated Logistic Support, Operational and Maintenance Training, Supply of Training and Education Centers for the Combat System and Platform Control System of the ships, the Life Cycle Support previously mentioned, and the systems for the maintenance of the ships in the Jeddah Naval Base.