Spanish Navantia Launches 7th Saudi Avante 2200 Corvette, Paving Way for Saudi-Built Warships

Navantia launched HMS Neom, Saudi Arabia's seventh Avante 2200 corvette, at San Fernando on October 25, 2026, making it the second ship in a three-vessel follow-on batch. Neom will sail to Saudi Arabia for SAMINavantia to install, integrate and test the HAZEM combat system, while the first vessel of the batch will be delivered in Spain. The contract also includes training for more than 100 Saudi engineers, Saudi fabrication of blocks for the third ship and transfer of design intellectual property rights. Completion of the follow-on batch is now scheduled for 2029.