Spanish shipbuilding firm Navantia has been able to produce one new corvette every four months—a remarkable pace by European and American standards.

Spain was once a global naval power, and even today its naval heritage is seen in historic shipyards in Ferrol, Cartagena, and Cádiz. The NATO member state is the fifth-largest shipbuilder in Europe and the ninth-largest in the world, producing warships both for its own domestic needs and for export. This week, Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia announced it had launched the seventh corvette built specifically for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF).

The future HMS NEOM was launched with great fanfare on Sunday. It is the second in a batch of corvettes that were contracted by Riyadh last year, and it followed five previous Al Jubail-class corvettes built by Spain for the Kingdom between 2019 and 2024.

Present at the launch ceremony were the Chief of Staff of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Ghuraybi, and Navantia’s chairman, Ricardo Domínguez. The two were joined by Her Highness Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Spain.

“From today, a new chapter begins: the integration of her systems, testing, sea trials, training, and the road toward full operational readiness,” al-Ghuraybi said in his remarks. “And one day, HMS NEOM will leave these shores and set her course toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She will carry Saudi ambition and Spanish craftsmanship, the trust built through years of working side by side.”

Al-Ghuraybi said the Spanish-built corvette carries the name of one of the flagship projects of the Kingdom’s Saudi Vision 2030 program.

“NEOM combines neo, meaning ‘new,’ with the letter ‘M,’ representing His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may Allah protect him,” he said. “From the shores of Spain to the shores of Saudi Arabia, HMS NEOM will stand as a lasting symbol of what our two Kingdoms can build together.”

The Al Jubail-Class Corvette’s Specifications

• Builder: Navantia (Spain)
• Number Built: 5 (8 planned)
• Length: 341 ft (104 m)
• Beam: 46 ft (14 m)
• Displacement (full load): ~2,000 to 2,470 tonnes (2,204.6 to 2,722.7 US tons)
• Propulsion: CODAD (Combined Diesel and Diesel) with 4 MTU 12V-1163-TB93 diesels and 4 RENK gearboxes, driving 2 controllable-pitch propellers
• Maximum Speed: 25–27 knots (28.8–31.1 mph, 46.3–50 km/h)
• Range: 4,500–5,000 nautical miles (5,179–5,754 mi, 8,334–9,260 km)
• Endurance: 21 days of provisions
• Armament:
  • Main Gun: Leonardo 76mm Super Rapid gun
  • Close-In Weapon System (CIWS): Rheinmetall Oerlikon Millennium 35mm / CIWS
  • Secondary Guns: 12.7mm and 30mm machine guns
  • Anti-Air Missiles: Vertical Launch System (VLS) with VL MICA / Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles (ESSM)
  • Anti-Ship Missiles: Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles
  • Anti-Submarine Warfare: 2×3 torpedo tubes
  • Aviation: Flight deck and hangar accommodating a 10-tonne helicopter plus 2 rigid-inflatable boats (RIBs)
• Crew: 102 (officers and ratings)

Spain Is Good at Building Light, Nimble Warships

The Al Jubail-class is based on the Avante family of warships of varying sizes that can be adapted to different missions and roles, including maritime surveillance and control, search and rescue operations, and escort duties, offering anti-submarine, anti-air, anti-surface, and electronic warfare capabilities. In addition to the corvettes built for Saudi Arabia, Navantia built four for the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela as the Guaiquerí-class patrol boat, of which three remain in active service.

Spain has shown it can quickly deliver these small fast warships to its export customers. It delivered the last Al Jubail-class corvette to the RSNF in June, only four months ago.

“This contract represents a substantial workload for the Bay of Cádiz, estimated at approximately four million working hours and requiring an average of 2,200 skilled jobs per day,” the company wrote of the Saudi sale. “In addition, as under the previous contract, more than 20 subcontractors and 50 suppliers from several countries will be involved.”

To ensure speedy delivery, the second batch of three corvettes is being constructed at the company’s San Fernando and Puerto Real facilities, with the final ship still on track for a 2029 handover to the RSNF.

“Launching one ship every four months is in line with the industrial schedule established for the programme and reflects the commitment of Navantia’s workforce to the customer,” said Domínguez. “Your dedication, experience and professional excellence allow us to say with confidence that Navantia is rigorously fulfilling the commitments it has undertaken. This ship, which will soon enter service with our customer, is yet another demonstration of this shipyard’s capabilities.” 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. He has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism, including Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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