Navantia lays keel for Saudi Arabia’s eighth Avante 2200 corvette

July 3, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has laid the keel for the eighth Avante 2200 corvette for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces at the San Fernando shipyard.

The vessel, designated hull C/577 ALULA, is part of a series of Avante 2200-based corvettes under construction at facilities in the Bay of Cádiz region. According to the company, the program continues to progress on schedule, with three corvettes from the second batch already moved out of workshops and the first unit launched on 18 June.

Navantia said deliveries are planned to continue through 2029 as additional vessels are completed and handed over to the Royal Saudi Navy.

The project represents approximately four million working hours and supports up to 2,000 jobs in the Bay of Cádiz area, according to figures provided by the company.

The corvettes incorporate systems and technologies developed by Navantia, reflecting the industrial scope of the project across multiple Spanish naval production sites, including San Fernando.

Last month, Navantia launched the sixth Avante 2200 corvette built for Saudi Arabia.

Navantia floats out sixth Avante 2200 corvette for Saudi Arabia

Vessels

The vessels provide significant capabilities for the defence of strategic assets and intelligence, as well as anti-submarine, anti-air, anti-surface and electronic warfare.