Developing the Saudi Naval Forces...the “Sarawat” and “Tuwaiq” projects enhance readiness and nationalize industries

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

The Ministry of Defense is moving at an accelerated pace towards building a modern naval force that possesses the latest combat systems, and is based on operational efficiency, advanced technologies, and qualified national cadres, within the framework of the Ministry of Defense development program, which was launched with the vision of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Supreme Commander of the Military Forces, approved his document on February 26, 2018.

The Ministry of Defense development document included a new vision and strategy, a targeted operational model, an organizational structure, a governance system, and human resources requirements, with the aim of improving spending efficiency, modernizing equipment and weapons, achieving joint operational excellence and excellence, supporting the localization of military manufacturing, developing individual performance and raising morale.

The development of the Royal Saudi Navy is one of the most prominent paths of the Ministry of Defence’s development program, based on the importance of the Kingdom’s maritime domain, and the responsibilities it imposes related to protecting its coasts extending on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, securing vital sea lanes, preserving national interests and strategic assets, and contributing to maintaining security and stability at the regional and international levels.

The Naval Forces are working to develop their combat systems, raise their operational readiness, and develop their human and technical capabilities, through the implementation of qualitative strategic projects that represent basic pillars in the process of modernizing the naval force, among which the “Sarwat” and “Tuwaiq” projects stand out.

The two projects represent a qualitative shift in the development of naval capabilities, through modernizing combat systems, transferring technology, localizing military industries, building national competencies, and developing maritime infrastructure, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a sustainable national defense industrial base and enhance the operational readiness of the armed forces.

The "Sarawat" project embodies the Ministry of Defense's approach towards developing naval forces, through building an integrated naval system based on possessing multi-mission combat ships, transferring technology and knowledge, enhancing operational readiness, and localizing military industries.

The project aims to manufacture eight modern combat ships of the Avanti 2200 type, equipped with the latest combat systems, in addition to providing an integrated system for logistical support, technical support, subsequent long-term supply, maintenance facilities, training simulators, and qualification programs.

The project consists of two phases. The first phase included the construction and manufacture of five combat ships, bearing the names “His Majesty King Jubail,” “His Majesty King Diriyah,” “His Majesty King Hail,” “His Majesty King Jazan,” and “His Majesty King Unayzah.” It also included training crews on operating ships, maintaining combat systems and main platforms, practical application using advanced simulators, and operational training at sea, in addition to equipping ground testing laboratories, and providing maintenance equipment, logistical services, and subsequent long-term supply, ensuring the readiness of ships and the sustainability of their operational efficiency.

As for the second phase, it included the construction and manufacture of the ships “His Majesty the King Al-Madina,” “His Majesty the King NEOM,” and “His Majesty the King Al-Ula,” in addition to an integrated logistical support package that includes training ship crews, implementing a comprehensive training plan for more than 100 Saudi engineers, localizing the construction of new naval ships, integrating combat systems, and implementing maintenance work, in a way that enhances local content, contributes to qualifying specialized national cadres, and building a sustainable marine defense industrial base.

The project's ships feature advanced combat systems to deal with air, surface and subsurface threats, in addition to advanced electronic warfare systems to monitor the maritime domain, to support the protection of the Kingdom's strategic interests, secure vital sea lanes, and enhance maritime security at the regional and international levels.

The first phase of the “Sarawat” project contributed to establishing an integrated national system for military maritime industries, through transferring knowledge, developing national expertise, and involving Saudi competencies in the various stages of the project.

In a prominent milestone within the first phase, the Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, at the King Faisal Naval Base in the Western Fleet in Jeddah, on December 4, 2023, witnessed the inauguration ceremony of the “His Majesty the King Jazan” ship, the fourth ship of the project, and the first ship to complete the construction work of its systems and carry out its acceptance tests on Saudi lands and waters.

One of the most prominent outcomes of the “Sarawat” project is the development of the naval battle management system “Hazm”, to be the first Saudi system for naval combat management, in a step that reflects the development of national capabilities in the field of naval combat systems, and enhances technical independence in the Saudi defense industries.

The “Sarawat” project is a model of integration between national entities in developing military industries and systems. The General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), as the regulator and legislator of the military industries sector, contributed to supporting the project through the industrial participation agreement concluded with the Spanish company “Navantia”.

The agreement included specific goals for localizing technologies, building national capabilities, and transferring knowledge, in a way that enhances local content, supports the goals of localizing military spending, and contributes to achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The project is the result of a strategic partnership between the Saudi Military Industries Company (SAMI) and the Spanish company Navantia, as part of efforts aimed at building a national defense industrial base capable of supporting the requirements of the armed forces during the coming decades.

The “Tuwaiq” project runs in parallel with the development process of the naval forces, within a vision that aims to build a modern naval force that relies on the latest military technologies, and is based on raising operational efficiency, developing human capabilities, and enhancing readiness to protect the Kingdom’s strategic interests.

The project includes the construction of four multi-mission combat ships of the MMSC type, “His Majesty King Saud’s Ship,” “His Majesty King Fahd’s Ship,” “His Majesty King Abdullah’s Ship,” and “His Majesty King Salman’s Ship,” in addition to developing the King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail, establishing advanced facilities for maintenance and training, providing an integrated system for logistical support and technical support, qualifying and training ship crews, and providing training simulators.

The Tuwaiq project reflects the depth of the defense and technical partnership between the Kingdom and the United States of America, through cooperation with Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri, in addition to cooperation with the General Authority for Military Industries, to support the localization of maritime military industries, transfer knowledge, and enhance national capabilities in the fields of maritime manufacturing.

The project contributes to qualifying national competencies, developing local content, creating quality job opportunities, and building specialized expertise in the military maritime industries.

The "Sarawat" and "Tuwaiq" projects confirm that the development of the naval forces is proceeding according to a comprehensive strategic vision that combines the localization of military industries, the acquisition of modern combat systems, the strengthening of international partnerships, building national capabilities, and developing the maritime infrastructure.

The Ministry of Defense continues its efforts to build an advanced naval force that is ready, efficient and sustainable, and keeps pace with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in establishing a national defense industry capable of supporting national security and protecting the strategic interests of the Kingdom.