HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
The outlines of a new phase of naval military cooperation between Morocco and Spain are beginning to take shape with the approaching delivery of the modern patrol vessel built by the "Navantia" company for the Royal Moroccan Navy, in a step that revives an industrial partnership that stopped for about four decades. The project, which took three years of intensive work, was not just a traditional military deal, but a huge industrial workshop that provided hundreds of jobs and contributed to revitalizing the Spanish shipbuilding sector.
The ship, which bears the name "Avante 1800", is currently undergoing a series of sea trials in the Gulf of Cadiz, after successfully completing its first test voyages from the San Fernando basin. These tests aim to ensure the readiness of the various technical and operational systems before its expected delivery during the summer of 2026, in a station that will crown more than a million working hours in which more than a thousand workers and technicians participated. Technically, this naval piece was designed to be multi-mission, with a length of 87 meters, giving it the ability to maneuver and operate in different marine environments, with a speed of up to 24 knots. It relies on an advanced propulsion system that combines powerful main engines and modern marine generators, which ensures stable performance and high operational efficiency. The importance of the ship is not limited to its technical capabilities only, but extends to the nature of the tasks it can undertake, as it was designed to secure maritime surveillance, protect exclusive economic zones, in addition to supporting defense operations in multiple fields, whether on the surface, air, or electronic level. Its design also takes into account reducing the radar signature, which gives it a greater ability to operate in sensitive environments, while reducing the number of crew members needed to operate it. This project comes within the context of increasing dynamism in Moroccan-Spanish relations, as it reflects a trend towards strengthening cooperation in strategic fields, especially in light of the security and economic challenges that the region is experiencing. It also coincides with joint military maneuvers that reflect the level of coordination between the two countries, which gives this deal a dimension that goes beyond the industrial aspect to include broader security and geopolitical bets.
