Scott Nicholas
Fincantieri will open an opportunity for Australia-based companies to help the European shipbuilder compete for a $26.4 billion Australian navy frigate manufacturing contract, the Australian Financial Review reported Sunday.
The selected companies will join Fincantieri’s global supply chain for commercial vessels such as cruise ships and luxury yachts.
The Australian navy will award a contract for the development of nine frigates equipped with anti-submarine warfare and ballistic missile defense capacities.
“From a business point of view, what we really want is the high-end, added-value manufacturing in this country,” said Sean Costello, director of Fincantieri Australia.
The Australian defense ministry announced in 2016 that Fincantieri, U.K.’s BAE Systems and the Spain-based Navantia are among the potential manufacturers of the new Australian navy frigates.
The report noted BAE Systems’ Global Combat Ship, a modified Navantia Alvaro de Bazan-class vessel and Fincantieri’s multi-mission anti-submarine warfare ship were shortlisted for the Australian navy program.
