Spanish Shipbuilder Navantia Accelerates Construction of Advanced Patrol Vessel for Moroccan Navy

In response to the parliamentary group Vox’s question about the level of execution of this project, the Spanish government replied that "the contract for the acquisition by the Royal Moroccan Navy of a high-altitude patrol vessel from Navantia S.A. is still in force" and that "the process of acquiring the main equipment of the ship" is already underway. Navantia is working to quickly build this ship, an Avante 1800 of the latest generation equipped with the most sophisticated systems.

Morocco has contracted a 95 million euro loan from the Spanish bank Santander to finance the construction of this patrol vessel, recalls Vozpopuli. Spain is keen to deliver this patrol vessel to Morocco, the last agreement for the sale of military ships to the Royal Moroccan Navy dating back to 1982. At the time, Spain had delivered a series of patrol vessels and a corvette to Rabat.

The Avante 1800 patrol vessel under construction is 89 meters long and 13.3 meters wide and can accommodate an average crew of 46 people, says the manufacturer Navantia, adding that it will be equipped with a 76 millimeter cannon and a missile launch system, as well as modern sensors and radars, electronic countermeasures and a helideck.