US Navy selects Fincantieri design for next-generation frigate
https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2020/04/30/the-us-navy-selects-fincantieri-design-for-next-generation-frigate/
The U.S. Navys newest surface combatant has Italian heritage, the Navy announced Thursday.
In a major win for Wisconsins Marinette Marine shipyard, the Navy selected Fincantieris so-called FREMM design, an acronym that stands for European multi-purpose frigate, in its original Italian. The shipyard, which is also on the hook for building the remaining mono-hull littoral combat ships and a frigate version of it for Saudi Arabia, is now a major player in U.S. Navy shipbuilding.
The detailed design and construction contract, worth $795.1 million, covers the design work and the first ship, as well as options for up to nine others. The total value of the contract if all options are exercised will be $5.58 billion. The contract is expected to be rebid after the first 10 ships.
The Navy is providing a significant portion of government furnished equipment, including a variant of the AN/SPY-6 radar destined for the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers under construction, and those costs are not included in the $5.58 billion.
Lovely ship