Navantia press release
The collaboration has been launched with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the World Defence Show (WDS) held in Riyadh.
Navantia has designed and is building five Avante 2200 Corvettes for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), through a comprehensive contract which includes Through Life Support (TLS) of the vessels in Saudi Arabia, as well as training of the crew and maintainers. The first of the corvettes will be commissioned to the Kingdom next March 31st.
Zamil and Navantia will explore potential collaboration in the field of support services to Avante 2200.
“Our cooperation with Zamil is a step further in our commitment to boost localization in support to RSNF and to develop a solid industrial ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. Navantia is fully committed to delivering KSA Vision 2030.”
Donato Martínez, Navantia’s Vice President for Systems and Services,
“We are very honoured to work with Navantia on this prestigeous opportunity. With Navantia’s global expertise and world renowned knowledge and Zamil’s proven track record in shipbuilding and repair projects, we are confident that our collaboration will yield a reliable local capability to support the sustainment of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces fleet”.
Nasser F. Alhazzani, COO of Zamil Offshore Services Company
The collaboration with Zamil complements other initiatives launched by Navantia to boost industrial cooperation in the Kingdom. Navantia created a Joint Venture with SAMI (Saudi Arabia Military Industries) to develop, integrate and market the first Saudi Combat System: HAZEM. The already fully operational company, called SAMI-Navantia, was awarded a significant contract in September 2019 for the supply and integration of the combat system of the five Avante 2200 corvettes.
SAMI Navantia employs more than 30 Saudi people. The Saudi engineers with direct participation in the Avante 2200 Corvettes project are deployed in Spain during the duration of the program and will become the backbone of the ship’s support in the Kingdom. The capability and skills developed in the Avante program will benefit also the future naval projects of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, as well as the international programmes where both companies are already cooperating.
The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) is the Kingdom’s defence sector regulator. Zamil Offshore is licensed by GAMI to engage in various defence activities, including manufacturing, services, and trade. GAMI’s regulatory oversight and policymaking efforts act as the key enabler of such strategic localization partnerships.
THE AVANTE 2200 PROGRAM
The Avante 2200 corvette 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 licenses, 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.
