Navantia launches sixth Saudi Arabian corvette HMS ALMADINAH in Spain
On June 18, 2026, Navantia launched the sixth corvette, HMS ALMADINAH, for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces at its San Fernando shipyard in Spain. The Avante 2200-class vessel is the first under a second three-corvette contract, with final delivery expected by 2029. The program includes integrated logistic support, crew training, and Spanish Navy evaluation. Two remaining corvettes will be completed in Saudi Arabia, strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.
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Navantia Lays Keel for Eighth Saudi Corvette HMS Al ULa
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has laid the keel for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces' eighth corvette, HMS Al ULa, at its San Fernando shipyard. The ceremony on July 2, 2026, was led by Alberto Cervantes, director of the corvette and offshore patrol vessel business unit. The vessel, hull number C/577, is part of the second batch of three corvettes ordered by Saudi Arabia. This follows the June 18 naming and launch of the sixth vessel, HMS Al Madinah. All three ships are scheduled for delivery by 2029. Under the contract, Navantia will deliver the first vessel, while the second and third will have combat systems installed and tested in Saudi Arabia. The project is expected to generate approximately 4 million work hours and 2,000 jobs in the Bay of Cádiz region. The Avante 2200 design enables multi-role missions including surveillance, search and rescue, and combat support.
Naval TechnologyNavantia lays keel for eighth Saudi corvette
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has laid the keel for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces' eighth corvette, HMS Al Ula, at its San Fernando shipyard. The ceremony took place on 2 July 2026, marking progress on the second series of three corvettes under a contract with the Saudi Ministry of Defence. The vessel, designated C/577, follows the launch of HMS Al Madinah in June 2026. All three ships are scheduled for delivery by 2029. Under the agreement, Navantia will deliver the first vessel, while the second and third will undergo combat system integration in Saudi Arabia. The project includes an integrated logistics support package, training for approximately 100 Saudi engineers, and operational evaluation at Spain's Rota naval base. The program is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs and involve four million working hours in the Bay of Cádiz region. The corvettes are based on the Avante 2200 design, supporting maritime surveillance, search and rescue, intelligence gathering, and multi-domain warfare capabilities.
Naval TechnologyNavantia lays keel for eighth Saudi corvette
Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has laid the keel for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces' eighth corvette, HMS Al Ula, at its San Fernando shipyard. The ceremony took place on 2 July 2026, marking progress on the second series of three corvettes for Saudi Arabia. The vessel, designated C/577, follows the launch of HMS Al Madinah on 18 June. All three ships are scheduled for delivery by 2029. Under the contract, Navantia will deliver the first vessel, while the second and third will undergo combat system integration in Saudi Arabia. The company will provide logistics support and train approximately 100 Saudi engineers. The project is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs in the Bay of Cádiz region. The corvettes are based on the Avante 2200 design, supporting maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and multi-role warfare capabilities.
Naval TechnologyNavantia Lays Keel of Eighth Corvette for Saudi Arabia at San Fernando Shipyard
Navantia's San Fernando shipyard held a keel-laying ceremony on July 2, 2026, for the eighth corvette (construction number C/577, named HMS ALULA) for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). This is the third unit of a second series of three corvettes, following the launch of the first on June 18. Delivery of all three vessels is scheduled for completion in 2029. Navantia will deliver the first unit, while the second and third will be completed in Saudi Arabia with combat system integration. The contract includes integrated logistics support, crew training, operational evaluation by the Spanish Navy at Rota naval base, and training for about 100 Saudi engineers. The program represents approximately four million working hours and up to 2,000 jobs in the Bay of Cádiz. The corvettes are based on the Avante 2200 model, featuring Navantia's HAZEM combat system, HERMESYS communications, DORNA fire-control, and other in-house solutions.
Naval NewsNavantia Lays Keel of Eighth Corvette for Saudi Arabia at San Fernando Shipyard
Navantia's San Fernando shipyard held a keel-laying ceremony on July 2, 2026, for the eighth Avante 2200 corvette (HMS ALULA) for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). This is the third vessel in a second series of three corvettes under a contract that includes integrated logistics support, crew training, and combat system integration. The first unit will be delivered by Navantia, while the second and third will be completed in Saudi Arabia. The program is expected to generate approximately 4 million working hours and up to 2,000 jobs in the Bay of Cádiz. Delivery of all three vessels is scheduled for 2029. The corvettes feature Navantia's HAZEM combat system, HERMESYS communications, and other in-house solutions.
Naval NewsNavantia lays keel of eighth Saudi corvette at San Fernando shipyard
Navantia held a keel-laying ceremony at its San Fernando shipyard for the eighth corvette (HMS ALULA) ordered by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). This is the third vessel of a second series of three corvettes based on the Avante 2200 design, following the launch of the first on June 18. The corvette will feature Navantia's in-house combat and communications systems, including the HAZEM combat system. Delivery of all three second-series vessels is scheduled to be completed by 2029. Navantia will deliver the first unit, while the second and third will be completed in Saudi Arabia. The contract includes logistics support, crew training, and training for about 100 Saudi engineers. The program represents about four million working hours and generates up to 2,000 jobs in the Bay of Cádiz region.
Naval NewsSaudi Arabia’s Sixth Corvette Launched at Navantia San Fernando Shipyard
Navantia, the Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company, launched the sixth corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) at its San Fernando facility on June 18, 2026. The vessel, named HMS Al Madinah, is part of a multi-ship procurement program between Saudi Arabia and Spain. The launch marks the completion of the series of Avante 2200-class corvettes ordered under a contract signed in 2018. These corvettes are designed for maritime patrol, interdiction, and defense missions, enhancing the RSNF's capability in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The event underscores ongoing defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Spain.
Naval TechnologySaudi Arabia’s sixth corvette launched at Navantia San Fernando shipyard
On 18 June 2026, Navantia launched the corvette HMS Al Madinah for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces at its San Fernando facility in Spain. This is the sixth vessel built for Saudi Arabia under a second contract covering three new corvettes, with the final handover scheduled for 2029. The AVANTE 2200-class ships are multi-purpose, designed for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and asset protection. The contract includes integrated logistic support, crew training, and an operational evaluation period with the Spanish Navy. Navantia will also provide dry-docking support. Earlier in June, Navantia signed a separate agreement to deliver follow-on support for five previously supplied corvettes.
Naval TechnologySaudi Arabia’s sixth corvette launched at Navantia San Fernando shipyard
Navantia launched the sixth corvette, HMS Al Madinah, for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces at its San Fernando shipyard in Spain on 18 June 2026. This is the first vessel under a second contract for three corvettes, with final delivery expected in 2029. The first ship will be commissioned in Spain, while subsequent ones will be equipped and tested in Saudi Arabia. The contract includes Integrated Logistic Support, crew training, and an operational evaluation period with the Spanish Navy at Rota Naval Base. The corvettes are based on Navantia's AVANTE 2200 model, designed for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and protection of strategic assets. They feature Navantia’s HAZEM combat system, HERMESYS communication system, and DORNA fire-control director, with engines from MTU and other systems under Schelde licenses. Navantia also signed a separate agreement for follow-on support of five previously delivered corvettes.
Naval TechnologyNavantia launches the sixth corvette for Saudi Arabia in San Fernando
Navantia launched the sixth corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) at its San Fernando shipyard on June 18, 2026. Named HMS ALMADINAH, the vessel is the first of three corvettes in a second contract between the Saudi Ministry of Defence and Navantia. The ceremony featured speeches by Navantia Chairman Ricardo Domínguez and Saudi Rear Admiral Saleh Al Khathami, who praised the partnership. The corvettes are based on the Avante 2200 design, a multi-purpose platform for maritime surveillance, defense, and electronic warfare. They integrate Navantia's HAZEM combat system, HERMESYS communications, and other in-house systems. The first vessel will be commissioned in Spain, while the second and third will be completed in Saudi Arabia. The contract also includes integrated logistic support, crew training, and operational evaluation by the Spanish Navy. Delivery of the final vessel is expected by 2029.
Naval NewsNavantia launches the sixth corvette for Saudi Arabia in San Fernando
Navantia launched the sixth corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) at its San Fernando shipyard on June 18, 2026. The vessel, named HMS ALMADINAH, is the first of a second contract between Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence and Navantia. The ceremony included Saudi and Spanish officials, with verses from the Qur'an recited. The corvette is based on the Avante 2200 design, a multi-purpose platform for maritime surveillance, search and rescue, and defense missions including anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare. It features Navantia's in-house systems such as the HAZEM combat system and HERMESYS communications. The second series comprises three corvettes, with the first commissioned in Spain and the remaining two completed in Saudi Arabia. The contract includes integrated logistic support, crew training, and operational evaluation by the Spanish Navy. The last vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2029.
Naval NewsNavantia launches sixth corvette for Saudi Arabia in San Fernando
Navantia launched the sixth Avante 2200 corvette, HMS ALMADINAH, for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces at its San Fernando shipyard on 18 June 2026. This is the first vessel under a second contract for three corvettes, with delivery of the final unit expected in 2029. The ceremony included Saudi officials, Qur'an recitation, and speeches highlighting program milestones. The corvette features Navantia's HAZEM combat system and other indigenous technologies. Initial commissioning will occur in Spain, while the remaining two corvettes will be completed in Saudi Arabia. The program underscores Spain-Saudi defense cooperation, including integrated logistics support, crew training, and a Spanish Navy evaluation period at Rota Naval Base.
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