 |
| Navantia's F-100: Possible base design for the future Australian ASW Frigate and currently under-construction AWD Destroyers |
The Government of Australia announced on 18th. April that Navantia has been shortlisted, with two other European companies, for the adjudication of the program of 9 frigates, which contract is foreseen to sign in 2018 and the beginning of the construction in 2020. This advertisement has been realized in the frame of the Strategic Plan of the Naval Construction, and Navantia will compete with Fincantieri and BAE Systems.
The Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull and the Defense Secretary, Marise Payne, have announced Navantia's preselection for the following phase of the program of the future frigates. The program consists of a total of nine units that would be built in Adelaide (Australia), where Navantia already has got an important presence in the program of three destroyers AWD, supporting the construction and tests of them.
Navantia was already contracted in 2014 to carry out design studies for the new frigates, which results, proving the viability of the platform F-100 for the future program of frigates, have been very important for Navantia's selection as potential designer. Navantia's alternative means a line of continuity with the program AWD, so much from the point of view of product (communality), as industrial, with the processes introduced by Navantia in Adelaide's shipyard.
Navantia's selection, after the announcement of preferred tenderer in the program of construction of 2 AOR , is an important milestone for the future of Navantia in Australia.
The SEA 5000 program for the future frigates is the most relevant surface naval program in the history of Australia. For Navantia, it means presence and consolidation in the country for the next 25 years, as well as a great potential for future opportunities.