Saudi Arabia, Spain Sign Agreement to Build Naval Combat Vessels for Saudi Naval Forces

The Saudi Ministry of Defense signed an executive agreement today with its Spanish counterpart to support the construction of three new Avante 2200 corvettes entailing collaboration in training, exchanging experience, and providing technical and logistical support to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. The agreement is part of the Sarawat project, which concluded its first phase with the construction and delivery of five combat vessels. Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Gharibi and Spanish Admiral General Antonio Pineiro Sanchez jointly endorsed the agreement at the Spanish Naval Staff headquarters. It aims to deepen ties between the defense ministries, facilitating the augmentation of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces' capabilities through the construction and provision of three additional Avante 2200 corvettes. These enhanced assets are set to fortify naval readiness in safeguarding Saudi Arabia, protecting its vital interests, and bolstering maritime security in the region, aligni ng with the strategic aims of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Moreover, the agreement entails technical assistance from the Spanish Naval Forces throughout the construction phases, encompassing system inspection, testing, crew training, and operational post-delivery and commissioning for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. The three new vessels mirror the technical and combat specifications of the five vessels from the initial phase of the Sarawat project delivered to the naval forces. Equipped with state-of-the-art combat and engineering systems, they are designed to effectively address air, surface, and subsurface threats. Source: Saudi Press Agency