SAN FERNANDO, Spain — May 8, 2026 : Spanish naval shipbuilder Navantia has laid the keel for the seventh Avante 2200-class corvette being built for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), marking another milestone in the ongoing ALSARAWAT naval programme between Spain and Saudi Arabia.
The vessel, identified as Construction No. 576, will enter service as HMS Neom. The keel-laying ceremony took place at Navantia’s shipyard in San Fernando, located in the Bay of Cádiz, and was conducted as a working event attended by representatives from Navantia’s programme teams and RSNF personnel.
The Saudi delegation was led by Commodore Fareed M. Alharbi, accompanied by members of the Project Control Office team. Senior representatives from Navantia also attended the event, including Alberto Cervantes, Director of the Corvette and Maritime Action Vessels Business Unit.
During the ceremony, the first structural block of HMS Neom was placed on the slipway, formally initiating assembly of the ship. The vessel now joins HMS Al-Madinah, the first ship in the current three-vessel batch, as both ships move toward launch preparations scheduled for the coming months.
The corvette forms part of the second series of three Avante 2200-class vessels ordered by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense under a contract signed in December 2024. The agreement follows the successful completion and delivery of the first batch of five Avante 2200 corvettes, which were handed over to the RSNF between 2022 and 2024.
The Avante 2200 is a multi-mission corvette designed for a broad range of naval and maritime security operations. Its mission profile includes exclusive economic zone patrols, maritime traffic surveillance and control, search and rescue operations, protection of strategic assets, intelligence gathering, and support for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, and electronic warfare missions.
The vessels have an overall length of approximately 104 metres, a beam of around 14 metres, and a draught of about 4.3 metres. Full-load displacement ranges between 2,200 and 2,470 tonnes depending on configuration. Each ship is capable of accommodating up to 111 personnel.
Powered by four diesel engines in a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration, the corvettes are capable of achieving maximum speeds of between 25 and 27 knots. Operational range is estimated at approximately 4,500 to 5,000 nautical miles.
The combat systems fitted aboard the class include a 76mm main naval gun, an eight-cell vertical launch system for surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, and smaller calibre weapon stations. The ships are also equipped with a stern flight deck and enclosed hangar capable of supporting operations involving a 10-ton class helicopter.
Under the terms of the current programme, Navantia will complete and deliver the first vessel of the second batch directly from Spain. The second and third ships, including HMS Neom, will undergo final completion work in Saudi Arabia. This includes installation, integration, and testing of combat systems through the SAMINavantia joint venture, continuing the industrial cooperation model established during the previous contract.
The programme also includes a broader support and training package covering integrated logistic support, operational assistance, and crew training. Navantia will additionally support an operational evaluation phase conducted by the Spanish Navy at Rota Naval Base, where support services for the ships will be provided.
As part of the Industrial Participation Agreement linked to the programme, Navantia is also responsible for training approximately 100 Saudi engineers in naval engineering and shipbuilding disciplines.
According to Navantia, the construction of the three corvettes is expected to generate approximately four million hours of industrial activity in the Bay of Cádiz region. The programme is projected to sustain up to 2,000 jobs, including direct, indirect, and induced employment throughout the duration of the contract.
The keel-laying of HMS Neom marks continued progress in the second batch of Avante 2200 corvettes and further expands long-term defence industrial cooperation between Spain and Saudi Arabia in the naval sector.
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