Navantia has launched the seventh corvette built for Saudi Arabia, moving the vessel closer to integration and sea trials before its eventual delivery.
Named Neom, the ship is the second of three corvettes ordered under a follow-on contract in 2025. It was launched at Navantia’s San Fernando shipyard in Spain’s Bay of Cádiz, following the construction of five vessels.
Navantia Chairman Ricardo Domínguez said the shipyard was maintaining the program’s planned pace.
“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,” Dominguez said.
The second batch is being built at the company’s San Fernando and Puerto Real facilities, with the final vessel due for delivery in 2029.
Following launch, Neom will undergo systems integration, testing, and sea trials before entering service. The wider agreement also includes crew training and integrated logistics support.
Saudi Avante 2200 Corvettes
The three new vessels will follow the AVANTE 2200 design used for the first five Saudi corvettes. Navantia developed the ships for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and the protection of strategic assets.
Their combat capabilities include anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, along with intelligence gathering and electronic warfare. These systems allow the corvettes to carry out patrol duties while also contributing to naval operations against threats in the air, on the surface, and underwater.
Navantia supplies several of the vessels’ onboard systems, including the HAZEM combat management system and the HERMESYS integrated communications system.
Other equipment includes the DORNA fire-control system, MINERVA integrated bridge, and an integrated platform management system.