Latest news with #Avante1800
Ya Biladi
23-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Spain to launch Royal Moroccan Navy patrol vessel next week
The Spanish state-owned company Navantia is set to launch the Avante 1800 patrol vessel, ordered by the Royal Moroccan Navy, on May 27, according to an announcement made Friday by a Spanish media outlet. The vessel, currently under construction at the Navantia shipyard in Cádiz, is scheduled for delivery in 2026. In September 2022, the Moroccan government signed a €95 million loan agreement with Banco Santander to finance the construction of the patrol vessel. The contract with Navantia includes a comprehensive technical and logistical support package, covering spare parts, tools, technical documentation, and training for Royal Moroccan Navy personnel in Spain. The patrol vessel will be 87 meters long and 13 meters wide, with capacity for a crew of 60. The total investment is estimated at €130 million, making it the largest defense contract Morocco has ever signed with the Spanish military industry. Between 1991 and 2020, Morocco signed defense contracts with Spain totaling approximately €385 million, €165 million of which was allocated to military transport vehicles.
Morocco World
30-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Navantia's Avante 1800 for Royal Moroccan Navy Takes Shape for 2026 Delivery
Doha – Construction of the new Avante 1800 offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Moroccan Navy continues at a steady pace at Navantia's San Fernando shipyard in Cádiz. The vessel, which represents a major upgrade to Morocco's naval capabilities, is scheduled for delivery in mid-2026. The project officially began with steel cutting in July 2023, followed by the keel laying ceremony on September 6, 2024, at San Fernando's dock number 3. During this working event, Colonel Major Mohammed Sallouh of the Moroccan Navy was welcomed by Navantia's President Ricardo Domínguez, Operations and Business Director Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero, and Director of Corvettes and Maritime Action Vessels Alberto Cervantes. 'The placement of the block on the dock, assisted by cranes, marks the beginning of construction where the ship starts taking shape,' a Navantia spokesperson noted, adding that fabrication of subsequent blocks continues in various workshops. Earlier in January 2024, Rear Admiral Mohamed Tahin, Inspector of the Royal Navy, personally visited Navantia's facilities to monitor the patrol vessel's construction progress. The vessel, which will be Navantia-San Fernando's 565th construction, boasts impressive specifications: 87 meters in length, 13 meters in beam, and a full-load displacement of approximately 2,020 tons. It will accommodate a crew of 60 personnel and achieve a maximum speed of 24-26 knots, powered by a Combined Diesel And Diesel (CODAD) propulsion system featuring four MAN 175D main engines supported by five Baudouin 6 M26.3 generator sets. With an operational range of about 4,000 nautical miles at an economical speed of 15 knots, the Avante 1800 is designed for extended maritime deployments with reduced operational and lifecycle costs. Read also: Morocco Launches Bid for Africa's Largest Shipyard in Casablanca The ship features a flight deck capable of supporting a 10-ton helicopter or vertical takeoff drones, along with a hangar for air operations. Its equipment includes two 8-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) for auxiliary missions. While official armament configurations for the Moroccan version remain undisclosed, the versatile Avante 1800 design typically accommodates a 76mm or 57mm main gun, remote-controlled weapon stations of 25mm or 30mm caliber, and various missile systems. This project was financially secured in September 2022, when the Moroccan government announced the signing of a €95 million loan with Banco Santander to help finance the vessel valued at €130 million. The broader program is estimated at around €260 million for two units, with Morocco retaining options for one or two additional vessels in the future. The construction will generate over one million work hours and approximately 1,100 direct and indirect jobs over three and a half years. The contract also includes technical and logistical support, comprising spare parts, tools, technical documentation, and training services for Royal Moroccan Navy personnel in Spain. This patrol vessel represents the first warship built by a Spanish shipyard for Morocco in nearly four decades, following the corvette 'Teniente Coronel Errahmani' delivered by then-Empresa Nacional Bazán (now Navantia) in March 1983. The Avante 1800 will join Morocco's modernizing fleet, which already includes the FREMM frigate Mohammed VI and three SIGMA-class corvettes, enhancing the country's capabilities in economic zone surveillance, anti-trafficking operations, pollution control, search and rescue, and rapid intervention missions. Tags: Navantiaroyal moroccan navy
Ya Biladi
30-04-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Spain : The Moroccan Navy's Avante 1800 patrol vessel to be delivered in 2026
The construction of the new Avante 1800 offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Moroccan Navy is progressing steadily, according to Defense Atlas. Built by the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, the project officially began with the steel cutting in July 2023, followed by the keel laying in September 2024 at the San Fernando shipyard. Delivery is expected by mid-2026. Estimated at around €260 million for two units, the program reflects Morocco's long-term commitment to strengthening its naval capabilities. The deal also includes an option for one or two additional vessels. Originally launched under Moroccan-Spanish naval cooperation, the project was suspended during the 2021 diplomatic crisis. It was revived after Spain backed Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara, with a €95 million loan from Santander Bank facilitating the final agreement. • First images of the construction progress of the Avante-1800 corvette for the Royal Moroccan Navy ?? • The ship will have a displacement of 2020 tons with a length of 87 meters • Equipped with a deck for helicopters or vertical take-off drones • Combat and armament systems have not yet been disclosed • Design of Avante 1800… — Defense Atlas - المرصد الأطلسي للدفاع و التسليح (@DefenseAtlas009) April 28, 2025 The Avante 1800 will join a modernizing Moroccan fleet that already includes the FREMM frigate Mohammed VI and three SIGMA-class corvettes. Featuring a modular design, the ship can adapt to various mission profiles, including exclusive economic zone surveillance, anti-trafficking and anti-pollution operations, search and rescue, rapid intervention, and support for combat divers. Measuring 87 meters in length and displacing 2,100 tons, the vessel offers a range of 4,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 26 knots. It includes a flight deck for 10-ton helicopters, a hangar for drones or light helicopters, and two 8-meter fast boats. Although the armament for the Moroccan version has not been officially confirmed, it is expected to include: A 76 mm main gun, 35 mm and 12.7 mm guns, surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles. It will also likely be equipped with electronic warfare systems, 3D radar, IFF, sonar, and passive defense systems. Inspired by export versions sold to Venezuela, the Moroccan Avante 1800 incorporates stealth features to reduce radar and thermal signatures, enhancing survivability in combat operations.
