US-built first Saudi MMSC frigate HMS Saud launched at Fincantieri’s shipyard.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed the launch of HMS Saud, the first Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigate built in the United States for the Royal Saudi Navy, at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. The milestone signals tangible progress in Project Tuwaiq and deepens U.S.–Saudi naval and industrial cooperation.

According to information published by the Saudi Ministry of Defense on December 18, 2025, the first Multi-Mission Surface Combatant frigate constructed in the United States for the Royal Saudi Navy has been officially launched at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. The ship, designated HMS Saud with pennant number 820 and also known as Jalalat Al-Malik Saud in honor of King Saud, is the lead vessel in a four-ship program ordered under Project Tuwaiq through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, a deal that defense officials have repeatedly described as a cornerstone of bilateral naval cooperation.
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The HMS Saud (820) has an overall length of approximately 118 meters, in some sources detailed as 118.6 meters, with a beam of 17.6 meters, a draft of about 4.3 meters, and a full-load displacement estimated at roughly 3,600 tonnes. (Picture source: Saudi MoD)

The Saudi Ministry of Defense confirmed that the launch followed a key industrial operation carried out on December 16, when HMS Saud was transferred from the construction hall to the ship lift, marking the transition toward final outfitting and upcoming trials. The event took place at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine yard, which has undergone extensive modernization to support both the US Navy and allied warship programs. Saudi officials described the launch as a tangible step forward in strengthening the Kingdom’s maritime defense posture and safeguarding critical sea lines of communication.

The launch ceremony in Wisconsin brought together senior Saudi and US military and industrial leadership, including Royal Saudi Naval Forces Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Ghraibi. According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the event symbolized not only the progress of the shipbuilding program but also the parallel development of training, qualification, and shore-based support structures required to ensure sustained operational readiness once the frigates enter service.

Project Tuwaiq is a long-term naval modernization effort that began with US approval of a potential MMSC sale in October 2015, estimated at an overall value of approximately 11.25 billion dollars. The formal contractual framework was established in May 2017 through the signing of a letter of offer and acceptance between the two governments. Subsequent US defense contracts supported the program, including awards in 2018 for detailed design and planning, followed by a major contract modification in December 2019 valued at nearly 2 billion dollars to cover detailed design and construction of all four ships, with work distributed across Wisconsin and other US industrial sites.

Construction of HMS Saud started with steel cutting in October 2019, while keel laying took place in May 2021. The keel of the second ship, HMS Fahd, with pennant number 822, was laid in October 2022, at a time when fabrication of the third and fourth hulls was already underway. Saudi officials have acknowledged schedule pressures linked to workforce availability and the integration of Saudi-specific combat systems, but they continue to underline that the program’s operational objectives remain intact.

The MMSC design is derived from the US Navy’s Freedom-class littoral combat ship but represents a fundamentally different operational concept. Instead of modular mission packages, the Saudi variant is equipped with permanently installed combat systems, making it a fully capable surface combatant. HMS Saud measures approximately 118 meters in length, sometimes cited as 118.6 meters, with a beam of 17.6 meters, a draft of about 4.3 meters, and a maximum displacement close to 3,600 tonnes. The combined diesel and gas propulsion system allows speeds of around 30 knots and a range of roughly 5,000 nautical miles, supporting extended operations beyond coastal waters.

The ship’s combat system is built around Lockheed Martin’s COMBATSS-21 combat management system, derived from Aegis architecture and integrated with Link 16 tactical data links. Sensors include the Hensoldt TRS-4D active electronically scanned array radar, Saab CEROS 200 fire control radars, electronic support measures, and an anti-submarine warfare suite that includes a variable depth sonar, with Captas VDS referenced in program documentation. The weapons fit includes Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, Mk 41 vertical launch systems intended for Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, a SeaRAM close-in weapon system, a BAE Systems 57 mm naval gun, Nexter Narwhal 20 mm remote weapon stations, Mk 32 torpedo launchers, and comprehensive decoy and torpedo defense systems.

Beyond the ships themselves, the Saudi Ministry of Defense emphasizes that Project Tuwaiq also includes shore infrastructure and long-term sustainment measures. Planned upgrades at King Abdulaziz Naval Base in Jubail involve modern maintenance, logistics, and training facilities designed to support the new frigates and reduce reliance on overseas support. The program is also aligned with Vision 2030 objectives through entities such as GAMI and GADD, with a focus on industrial localization and the development of domestic sustainment capabilities to support the Royal Saudi Navy’s new generation of surface combatants.