A Fincantieri subsidiary received a potential $553.8 million contract modification after the U.S. Navy exercised an option for the company to design and build the second Constellation-class guided-missile frigate.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine will also provide integrated digital environment services to support the construction of the future USS Congress (FFG 63) frigate, the Department of Defense said Thursday.
The shipbuilder said it is working with the Navy on the detailed design of the first frigate, USS Constellation (FFG-62), with plans to begin fabrication by the end of 2021 at its Wisconsin shipyard for delivery in 2026.
In April 2020, the Navy awarded the company a potential 15-year, $5.57B contract that includes the lead ship and options for nine additional frigates.
Dario Deste, president and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, said the approval of the second frigate can be attributed to the company’s progress on FFG design and continued efforts on capital improvements.
“We made substantial investments in our system-of-shipyards in Wisconsin, so that we can solidify our position as a surface combatant center of excellence,” Deste said. “In the end, we expect to make many frigates for the U.S. Navy beyond the initial 10.”
The company will perform work in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Virginia, Louisiana, New York, California, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Illinois and Washington, D.C., through January 2027.
Naval Sea Systems Command obligated the full contract amount using shipbuilding and conversion for fiscal year 2021.
