NAVANTIA and Bath Iron Works collaborate in the program for the future frigates of the US Navy
23 November 2017 | Madrid
Frigates, beside an US aircraft carrier.
NAVANTIA and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works have concluded a joint agreement for collaborating in the FFG (X) program for the next generation frigates for the US Navy. The partnership between Bath Iron Works, designer and builder of some of the most advanced military ships in the world, and NAVANTIA, a first-level frigates’ designer, will be able to supply to the US Navy the most capable surface battleships and for a reduced cost.
“We are glad to collaborate with Bath Iron Works in the FFG(X) program. Our alliance began in the 1980s, when we jointly worked for bringing the design of the FFG Oliver Hazard Perry/Santa María to Spain, creating in our country a modern shipbuilding industry”, said Mr. Esteban Garcia Vilasánchez, NAVANTIA’s Chairman. “It is a great honor for NAVANTIA to have the opportunity of working again with Bath Iron Works, offering our design capabilities to the US”.
“Bath Iron Works assessed many US and foreign designs which met the requirements of the FFG(X) program, and concluded that the family of frigates designed and built by NAVANTIA perfectly fit”, stated BIW’s Chairman, Mr. Dirk Lesko. “We look forward to continuing the productive relationship which we have held with NAVANTIA for almost 40 years”.
NAVANTIA provides a long experience in frigates’ design and a successful tradition in export markets. And in order to guarantee that the program meets costs and terms, the US Navy has set the requirement of designs which are already in existence and operating.
The agreement stipulates that NAVANTIA and Bath Iron Works will collaborate on evolved designs of NAVANTIA’s of the family of AEGIS frigates, which includes the Norwegian F-310 frigates and the Spanish F-100. The latest of these vessels, the HMAS Hobart, was delivered to the Royal Australian Navy on September 2017.
The FFG(X) program will provide to Fleet Commanders an asset with an extraordinary capability for achieving the goals of dominance and security at sea, besides of facilitating to operate at any place in support to the attack group and in fleet-related operations. With an initial purchase plan for 20 units, the award for the contract for the design and building is planned for 2020.
About General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is a comprehensive service shipyard, specialized on designing, constructing, and supporting complex surface battle vessels, which has supplied to the US Navy during more than a Century the most advanced and high-quality combat capabilities.
About NAVANTIA:
NAVANTIA constitutes a world reference in the design, construction and integration of warships with a high-technological content, as well as ship repairs and upgrades. Besides, its activity lines include the design and manufacturing of combat and command and control systems, integrated platform management systems, firing control systems, propulsion engines and the Life Cycle Support for all its products. Although its main activity is in the naval field, NAVANTIA also designs and manufactures systems for the Army and the Air Force.