The Navantia San Fernando shipyard hosted on Tuesday a sheet metal cutting ceremony, marking the effective start of the construction of the first of three corvettes that will be built for the Royal Saudi Navy (RSNF).

The event, held just a week after the signing of the new contract between Navantia and the Saudi Ministry of Defense in Riyadh, was attended by Navantia President Ricardo Domínguez and the rear admiral of the RSNF, Mansour Aljuaid.

The sheet metal cutting was carried out in the Open-Plane Units Workshop, which is currently finalizing its equipment and will be a key milestone in the production process of future constructions at the shipyard.

The workshop uses the latest hybrid laser technology, significantly reducing production times. This workshop is one of the largest investments made at the San Fernando shipyard and will allow Navantia, alongside other initiatives undertaken at all its centers, to position itself at the forefront of shipbuilding.

This first sheet metal cutting marks the beginning of Navantia’s second contract for Avante 2200 class corvettes with the Saudi Royal Navy, after completing the first contract which included the construction and delivery of five units.

With the effective start of this new contract, the last of the three ships is scheduled for delivery in 2028. Navantia will be responsible for the delivery of the first unit, while the second and third will be completed in Saudi Arabia, including the installation, integration and testing of the combat system, as in the previous contract.

The order includes an integrated logistics support package and crew training, together with an operational evaluation period of the ships by the Navy at the Rota naval base, where Navantia will provide support services. In addition, Navantia will train one hundred Saudi engineers.

This contract represents around four million hours of work for the Bay of Cadiz, generating an impact of up to 2,000 jobs (direct, indirect and induced employment).

Navantia holds naming ceremony for Spain’s second S-80 submarine
Navantia holds naming ceremony for Spain’s second S-80 submarine
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