Navantia Said to Be in Negotiations With Saudi Arabia for 5 Avante 2200 Corvettes

Navy Recognition ^ | 19 January 2016

[sukhoi-30mki]

According to Spanish daily newspaper La Voz de Galicia, Spanish shipyard Navantia is said to be in advanced negotiations with Saudi Arabia for five Avante 2200 corvettes. The newspaper talks about "final phase" of talks. It is likely that Navantia is competing against Lockheed Martin who is offering four Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) Ships, an export variant of Lockheed Martin's Freedom class LCS currently in use with the U.S. Navy.

We just revealed the design of the MMSC last week while attending the SNA 2016 show. Follow this link to see the pictures. The ships are being offered as part of a modernization program of the Saudi navy's eastern fleet called SNEP II (Saudi Naval Expansion Program). Saudi Arabia has already commited to purchase 10x MH-60R Romeo helicopters as part as SNEP II.

Venezuelan Navy Guaiquerí class patrol vessel (Avante 2200 Combatant) head of class.

Picture: Navantia

The Avante 2200 corvette offered to Saudi Arabia is said to be a variation of the design selected by the Venezuelan Navy, where it is known as the Guaiquerí-class patrol boat.

The vessel has a displacement of 2,200 tons with a length of 98.90 meters and a maximum speed of 25 knots. It was designed for low intensity missions such as patrol in the economic exclusive zone (EEZ), safeguard of sea lanes of communication, intelligence gathering, environment protection, drugs smuggling prevention, humanitarian relief and search and rescue operations. Venezuela procured four vessels of this class.

The F-538 Frigate design showcased by Navantia during NAVDEX 2015 in the UAE

A slightly larger variation of the Avante 2200 design is the Avante 3000/2400 (or F-538) design which we covered last year during NAVDEX 2015, a naval defense exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Navantia representatives at the show told us it was representative of a design being proposed to the Peruvian Navy. But since this configuration appears to be much closer what is being offered by Lockheed Martin with the MMSC, Navy Recognition believes it is possible that Navantia is offering a vessel of this design to the Royal Saudi Navy as well.

As we reported during NAVDEX 2015: With a moderate displacement of about 3,800 tons, the F-538 is Navantia's answer to navies looking for mid-size frigates to conduct a wide range of missions. The F-538 is quite uniquely fitted with 2x Millenium guns and 1x RAM launcher.

[NorthMountain]

2200 Tons???

In WWII, we called that a Fletcher Class destroyer.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Nice yacht

[PAR35]

Unless I planned to try to waterski behind it, I’d trade the speed and size for the upgrade from 57mm to 76mm for the main gun.

[nikos1121]

Cool!

[PAR35]

yes, but the Fletcher class had 5 5inch guns instead of a single pop gun.

[03A3]

Does that POS fold up into a robot?

[NorthMountain]

Fletcher class didn't have a helo pad or hangar. You might be missing the point, though.

They're calling this thing a corvette. It has the displacement of a WWII destroyer. Today's Arleigh Burke class destroyers have the displacement of a WWII light cruiser (8000-10000 tons). Tomorrow's Zumwalt class destroyers have the displacement of a WWII heavy cruiser. There has been some serious hull inflation going on ... comparing armament isn't as simple as comparing bore diameter.

[PAR35]

comparing armament isn't as simple as comparing bore diameter. /

Well if you think a 57 mm can do what a broadside of 5 t inch shells can do, we'll have to disagree.

As for hull size, private rooms for the women sailors takes up space. And you can't free up enough space by removing the armor.

Today's Arleigh Burke class destroyers have the displacement of a WWII light cruiser (8000-10000 tons).

That's about the range of a pre-dreadnaught battleship.

[NorthMountain]

Only hits count. A "broadside" of 5" shells that only hits water is a lot less useful than a smaller caliber auto-cannon that hits the target. That said, I too am disturbed by the lack of armament on these things. 2200 t and all they can come up with is one 57mm? Really? There's plenty of room for more, even considering the space taken up by the helo deck.

As for hull size, private rooms for the women sailors takes up space.

Arleigh Burke was laid down in 1988.

That's about the range of a pre-dreadnaught battleship.

The increase in hull size from pre-Dreadnaught to Iowa or Yamato was accompanied by a corresponding increase in gun size, with little change in the fundamental technology of the guns or sighting mechanism until the very end. We now have ships of the same tonnage but totally different armament and mission.

[pepsi_junkie]

That said, I too am disturbed by the lack of armament on these things. 2200 t and all they can come up with is one 57mm? Really?

Well it appears there are some vertical launcher cells behind the gun so ... missiles!

[Oztrich Boy]

That said, I too am disturbed by the lack of armament on these things. 2200 t and all they can come up with is one 57mm? Really? There's plenty of room for more, even considering the space taken up by the helo deck

Well, consider how much more tonnage and cost would be required by a ship with roughly the equipment/armament fit but twice the speed (hint: ask Lockheed Martin)

[sukhoi-30mki]

If you are referring to the ship in the first picture, it’s being operated as an OPV, so armament will be limited to what works best for patrol missions.