Navantia Starts Construction of First Saudi Arabian Corvette

Navantia has started the construction of the first corvette for the Royal Saudi Arabian Navy.

This symbolic action consisted of cutting the first steel plate for the vessel, belonging to block 401 of the engine room. Its measures 12 x 2.4 meters, is 7 millimeters think and weighs 1,254 kilograms, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

The contract, in force since last November, strengthens the immediate future of Navantia and benefits all the shipyards of the company and its subcontractors, especially around the Bay of Cádiz. 

The program that begins today, and whose last ship will be delivered in 2022, includes, in addition to the construction of the ships, Life Cycle Support for five years from the delivery of the first ship, with an option for an additional five years. 

The design of the corvettes is maximizing Navantia's participation through the incorporation of its own products, such as the CATIZ combat system, the HERMESYS integrated communication system, the DORNA fire control, the Integrated Platform Control System, the MINERVA integrated bridge as well as motors and gearboxes. 

The contract also includes the supply of various services such as integrated logistic support, operational and maintenance training, supply of Training and Training Centers for the ships’ Combat System and Platform Control Systems, Life-Cycle Support, as previously mentioned, and systems for the maintenance of the ships in the Naval Base.