Morocco set to receive first Spanish-built warship in over 40 years

Morocco is expected to receive its first Spanish-built warship in more than four decades next July through the Royal Moroccan Navy, under a contract valued at approximately 130 million euros, according to Spanish media reports.

Spanish outlet Atalayar, which specializes in Mediterranean and North African affairs, reported that the delivery comes at what it described as a “new historic moment” in relations between Morocco and Spain.

After more than 40 years, Rabat is preparing to take delivery of a military vessel built in Spain at the Navantia shipyard. The patrol vessel is expected to be handed over in July 2026.

According to Spanish sources cited in the report, the Avante 1800-class vessel will arrive in Morocco without weapons systems installed. The Royal Moroccan Navy will later equip the ship with its own combat systems before integrating it into the fleet, currently led by the frigate Mohammed VI.

The contract for the construction and delivery of the vessel is estimated at around 130 million euros. Spanish reports described Navantia as one of Europe’s most advanced and reputable shipbuilders.

The Avante 1800 patrol vessel measures about 87 meters in length and 13 meters in width and can accommodate a crew of 60 personnel. It was designed primarily for maritime surveillance and military operations.

The ship has a top speed of 24 knots and uses a CODAD propulsion system powered by four MAN 175D diesel engines and five Baudoin generators.

In terms of armament, the vessel can be equipped with a main gun of either 75mm or 57mm caliber, two secondary guns of 25mm or 30mm caliber, as well as missile launchers for point defense, air defense and surface-to-surface missiles.

The corvette also features a stealth-style design intended to enhance maneuverability during surveillance missions, according to the same source. It is designed for armed and defensive operations, particularly the protection of exclusive economic zones, and includes advanced electronic warfare capabilities.

Spanish media viewed Morocco’s renewed acquisition of a Spanish-built warship — the first since Spain delivered the patrol vessel Teniente Coronel Errahmani in 1983 — as another sign of strengthening bilateral relations between the two neighboring Mediterranean countries.

Relations between Rabat and Madrid have deepened in recent years across multiple sectors, particularly after Spain’s 2022 endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy initiative for the Sahara as the “most serious, credible and realistic” basis for resolving the regional dispute.

The two countries have since held high-level bilateral summits in Rabat in February 2023 and Madrid in December 2025, resulting in several cooperation agreements in strategic sectors.

Military and security cooperation has also expanded through joint police and military exercises aimed at strengthening regional security and stability. Spanish observers said the Navantia contract reflects the growing strategic partnership between the two countries in the western Mediterranean.