Navy Explores Italian & US Warships for New Frigate

photo – FREMM European Multimission Frigate

By Dave Majumdar – senior contributing writer Warrior Maven

The Navy is now analyzing concept designs from a range of US and European shipbuilders as part of its effort to acquire and deploy a new, well-armed and highly survivable Frigate FFG (X) vessel intended to fortify the surface force with advanced blue water attack missions, anti-submarine missions and a range

Five companies are working on a concept design phase for the new frigate—which must be based on a “mature” design—that are worth $15 million each. A production contract will be awarded—if all goes as planned—in Fiscal Year 2020 for the construction of 20 new frigates.

Austal USA, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Huntington Ingalls Industries and an Italian Bergamini class vessel known as Fregata Europea Multi-Mission or FREMM.

Special Profile: Navy Examines Italian Warship (Dave Majumdar went on a special tour of the FREMM)

The FREMM is one of 10 such vessels being built for the Italian Navy in two configurations, one version for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role and another for general purpose missions.

Rome is buying four of the ASW variant and six of the general purpose variant. Other versions of the FREMM—which is a joint venture between Rome and Paris—include a French ASW variant and a French air defense variant. Another potential buyer for the FREMM design is the United States Navy, which has a requirement that it needs to fill for 20 FFG(X) frigates.