Navantia delivered to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) the primary of 5 Avante 2200 class corvettes in-built its shipyards within the Bay of Cadiz, in a ceremony held on the services of the Naval Base of La Carraca, in San Fernando (Cádiz). The supply ceremony of the vessel 546, named HMS AL-JUBAIL, was attended by the Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Power, Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily; the Spanish the Admiral Chief of Workers of the Spanish Navy (AJEMA), Antonio Martorell Lacave; the CEO of SAMI, Walid Abukhaled; and the Chairman of Navantia, Ricardo Domínguez, in addition to the Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez, and the Secretary Normal for Business and SMEs, Raül Blanco.
The occasion was carried out in accordance with the army protocol. The Joint Inspection Fee (RSNF and Navantia) went on board the corvette to hold out the obligatory inspection. On the finish of the inspection, the ship’s flag was raised, after which the RSNF transferred command of the corvette to the Commanding Officer of HMS AL JUBAIL. Lastly, the Chairman of Navantia offered to Vice Admiral Al-Ghofaily with the ship’s bell as an institutional present. The corvette AL-JUBAIL has been delivered to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces in roughly three years because the slicing of its first metal plate (January 2019) and after having efficiently handed the ocean trials carried out within the waters of the Bay of Cadiz throughout the previous couple of months. These assessments have verified the correct functioning of each the platform and the completely different techniques, with the goal of demonstrating compliance with the necessities specified within the ship’s contract.
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The CEO of SAMI highlighted that “it is a second of proud achievement for the Saudi protection business and SAMI and demonstrates our success in collaboration with main world OEMs to serve Saudi Arabia’s armed forces. We’re assured that HMS Al Jubail shall be a key addition to the Kingdom’s protection functionality”. “On behalf of SAMI, I specific our honest because of the Kingdom’s clever management for always guiding and supporting us. We additionally lengthen a particular because of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces for his or her belief in us. SAMINavantia continues to help our efforts to construct a sustainable protection sector within the Kingdom, which incorporates creating the primary Saudi Naval Fight System – HAZEM, facilitating protection localization by means of the switch of expertise, and nurturing nationwide expertise by means of on-the-job coaching.”
Navantia’s Chairman, Ricardo Domínguez, said his satisfaction for “the nice job carried out by the shipyard, the cooperation acquired from all of the contractors and suppliers and the collaboration of the officers dedicated to this system each in San Fernando and in Saudi Arabia”. “I’ve little doubt that this ship goes to be a world benchmark in her class and a transparent instance of a leading edge product. I need to spotlight our dedication to switch our most superior expertise to the Kongdom of Saudi Arabia”, declared Mr Dominguez.
Within the commissioning ceremony, Vice-Admiral Al-Ghofaily said that this bold applications underline the robust and lasting strategic relations between the Governments of each Kingdoms and attributed an awesome credit score to Navantia dedication to ship such a state-of-the-art corvette with distinctive high quality on schedule and. He additionally acknowledged the deserves and dedication of all of the folks concerned, in addition to these of the Spanish Navy. HMS Al Jubail is probably the most technologically superior floor combatant to affix the RSNF, he stated. Vice-Admiral Al Ghofaily expressed his utmost gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Protection for the nice consideration and limitless help that they all the time give to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
From the Spanish Authorities, the Secretary of State for Commerce expressed help to the naval business and highlighted that the Prime Minister has introduced that Spain will meet its purpose of allocating 2% of GDP to defence, thus contributing to European and Atlantic safety, whereas on the similar time strengthening our nation’s safety. The Secretary Normal for Business and SMEs conveyed in his speech the significance of strengthening the Spanish naval and defence business in an unsure world setting, and of working in stable alliances with allied nations as proven by the supply of the corvette.
The corvette AL-JUBAIL has a size of 104 metres, a beam of 14 metres and is able to carrying a complete of 102 crew and passengers. The contract for the development of 5 corvettes got here into pressure in November 2018 and, because the launching of this primary unit in July 2020, Navantia has already launched the 5 items with a cadence of 4 months between every of them, which implies attaining this milestone in a report time of three years. The corvettes are based mostly on the AVANTE 2200 design, tailored to the necessities of Saudi Arabia, providing superior efficiency, glorious efficiency at sea, excessive survivability and talent to function in excessive temperatures akin to within the Crimson Sea and the Arabian Gulf. On the similar time, round 500 crew members of those corvettes will full the coaching course of on the Navantia Coaching Centre (NTC) in San Fernando.
Along with the corvettes contract, Navantia agreed with SAMI (Saudi Arabian Navy Industries) the creation of the three way partnership SAMINavantia in Saudi Arabia. This alliance advantages NAVANTIA and SAMI, and permits boosting defence programmes within the Kingdom, reinforcing its economic system. This three way partnership is an distinctive alternative for Navantia to place its built-in techniques and technologically superior options within the Arab market and its space of affect, completely aligned with the corporate’s internationalisation technique. The design of the corvettes is state-of-the-art, incorporating SAMINavantia participation and joint developed merchandise , such because the HAZEM fight system, HERMESYS built-in communications system, DORNA hearth management system, the Built-in Platform Management System (IPMS) and the MINERVA built-in bridge, along with different tools developed by Navantia underneath licence, such because the MTU engines and the RENK gearboxes. The programme, the final ship of which is due for supply in 2024, consists of along with building, Life Cycle Help for 5 years from supply of the primary ship, with an choice for an extra 5 years.
