According to a PR published by Navantia on March 7, 2024, the Spanish shipbuilder has handed over the fifth and final corvette, HMS UNAYZAH, to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) during a ceremony at the King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah.
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Saudi Al Jubail class corvette Hunayzah. (Picture source: Navantia)
The event, overseen by General Fayyad bin Hamed al Ruwaili and Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily, marks the completion of the Al-Sarawat project, aimed at enhancing the naval capabilities of Saudi Arabia in line with the country's Vision 2030.
HMS UNAYZAH, constructed at Navantia’s shipyard in the Bay of Cádiz, is part of an effort to improve the RSNF's efficiency in multi-combat missions and to safeguard Saudi Arabia's strategic interests.
Vice Admiral Fahad Bin Abdullah Al-Ghofaily, in his remarks, emphasized the corvette's contribution to the Kingdom's defense readiness and the project's role in advancing the localization of defense capabilities—a key goal of Saudi Arabia's defense spending strategy.
The delivery ceremony highlighted the partnership between Navantia and the Saudi Arabian Military Industry (SAMI), demonstrating the technology transfer and localization of production capabilities achieved through the SAMINavantia joint venture. This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia's efforts to enhance its defense industry and job creation.
HMS UNAYZAH, based on the AVANTE 2200 design, is 104 meters long and accommodates 102 personnel. Its construction and delivery conclude a project that saw the launch of five units within three years, signifying a significant phase in the partnership between Navantia and the RSNF. The contract also encompasses life cycle support and training services, ensuring the corvettes' operational effectiveness.
The commissioning event was attended by senior officials from both Spain and Saudi Arabia, including representatives from the defense sector and the joint venture partners, underscoring the collaborative efforts behind the project's realization.
Technical data
The HMS Unayzah has a displacement of 2,419 tons and measures 99 meters (324 feet 10 inches) in length and 13.6 meters (44 feet 7 inches) in beam, with a draught of 3.8 meters (12 feet 6 inches).
It is powered by a Combined Diesel And Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system that includes four MTU 12V-1163-TB93 engines, each producing 4,440 kW (5,950 hp), and operates two shafts fitted with Wärtsilä 5C11 CP propellers. This setup enables the corvette to achieve a top speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph), with cruising and economy speeds of 22 and 18 knots, respectively.
The HMS Unayzah has an operational range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). The ship's crew includes 60 members, with additional space for 32 personnel.
For surveillance and combat operations, the HMS Unayzah is equipped with several sensors and processing systems, including the Thales SMART-S Mk-2 multifunction radar, Mirador Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS), Vigile 100 Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Scout Mk2 Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) radar, Sting 1.2, and the TACTICOS Combat Management System (CMS).
