Australia’s defense ministry has issued requests for tender on a $26.7 billion frigate shipbuilding program to down-selected offerors BAE Sytems, Fincantieri and Navantia.
The ministry said Friday it seeks to procure nine warships that will conduct maritime warfare operations, such as anti-submarine missions, under the Future Frigate project.
“The three shortlisted designers must demonstrate and develop an Australian supply chain to support Australia’s future shipbuilding industry, and also how they will leverage their local suppliers into global supply chains,” said Christopher Pyne, Australian minister for defense industry.
Pyne added the defense ministry will evaluate responses to the Future Frigate RFT later this year and unveil the winning contractor in 2018.
BAE offered its Type 26 Frigate while Navantia proposed a remodeled F100 and Fincantieri submitted its FREMM Frigate to the program.
The Future Frigates are part of the country’s $67.6 billion national effort to boost the country’s naval shipbuilding industry.
