The Saudi Arabian Military Industries company (SAMI) and Spanish firm Navantia signed on Thursday a partnership that would localize more than 60 percent of naval combat systems activity including integration and installation.
Both parties also inked a Letter of Intent to design and build five Avante 2200 corvettes, including Combat Management System, for the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of SAMI Ahmed al-Khateeb said that the agreement signed between SAMI and Navntia is in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and activates Crown Prince's announcement to localize 50 percent of military spending by 2030.
“SAMI is currently exploring all collaboration and localization opportunities to build a strong autonomous system of military industries. Navantia is committed to partnering with Saudi Arabia and determined to expand its presence in the Saudi and regional market,” Khateeb added.
Once operational, the new joint venture (JV) will focus on program management and combat system integration and installation, system engineering, system architecture, hardware design, and software development, testing and verification, prototyping, simulation, and modeling.
Chairman of Navantia Esteban García Vilasánchez said the agreement will further solidify the relationship between Navantia and SAMI, and that the resulting JV will contribute to consolidating the preparedness of the Saudi military fleet.
In addition, the deal will create approximately 1,000 jobs and training opportunities for Saudi youth, and increase the contribution of Saudi nationals to the industry in line with achieving the ambitious Vision 2030.
