Saudi Arabia close to $3.3bn warship deal

Riyadh : Saudi Arabia is poised to purchase five Avante 2200 corvette patrol vessels from Navantia, a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company, which offers its services to both military and civil sectors. 

According to IHS Jane the contract for the five vessels could cost as much as $3.3 billion. It is expected to be signed during King Philip VI’s official visit to Riyadh which begins today, according to Spanish News Today.

According to IHS Jane, the Corvettes appear to be for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF)’s Eastern Fleet. Previously, in 2015, Riyadh had held talks with American aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin over the purchase of six military vessels – including four 3,500-ton “frigate-like warships”, also for its Eastern
Fleet.

However, Riyadh is said to have baulked at the $11.25 billion price tag placed by the US State Department, leading to a search for alternatives. 

Initial approval from Riyadh for the purchase of five Avante 2200 corvettes from Navantia was reached in February this year. 

While it remains unclear what precise role the Spanish vessels are set to play within the RSNF, the QUWA Defence & Analysis Group has noted that the corvettes could be equipped for anti-ship warfare and anti-air warfare purposes, while also possessing a flight deck and hangar with the capacity to hold one 10-tonne utility helicopter. (TheNewArab)