Spanish shipbuilder and systems integrator Navantia has partnered with Advanced Electronics Company (AEC), a SAMI company, to boost technology development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Navantia is a state-owned company widely experienced in ship design, construction, and integration of surface combatants, submarines, naval auxiliaries, and associated systems for the naval and merchant market, and is the designer and builder of five Avante 2200 corvettes for Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF). AEC is focused on developing, designing, manufacturing, selling, and supporting military systems and is a strategic partner of RSNF.
The two companies will explore potential collaboration related to the maintenance and overhaul of Navantia systems and new business opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
To launch this cooperation, Navantia and AEC have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during their attendance at World Defense Show (WDS) in Riyadh.
“We are proud to materialise our commitment to increasing localization in our relationship with RSNF,” said Navantia’s Vice president for Systems and Services, Donato Martínez.
“The agreement will bolster our strategic partnership with Navantia and solidify our long-lasting relationship with RSNF as we continue to explore similar collaborations, cementing SAMI Advanced Electronics’ presence as a key enabler of Saudi Vision 2030 goals through enhancing the company’s capabilities and increasing local content”, said CEO of Advanced Electronics Company, Eng. Ziad Al Musallam.
This MoU represents a further step in the relationship between Navantia and SAMI. Both companies have created a joint venture to develop, integrate and market the first Saudi Combat System: HAZEM.
The already fully operational company, called SAMI-Navantia, was awarded a significant contract in September 2019 for the supply and integration of the combat system of the five Avante 2200 corvettes currently under construction for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces.
SAMI Navantia employs more than 30 Saudi people. The Saudi engineers with direct participation in the Avante 2200 Corvettes project are deployed in Spain during the duration of the programme and will become the backbone of the ship’s support in the Kingdom.
The capability and skills developed in the Avante programme will also benefit the future naval projects of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces and the international programmes where both companies are already cooperating.
