New consortium formed to design second phase of European patrol corvette programme

Fincantieri, Navantia and Naval Group signed an agreement on November 4 to form a consortium for the second phase of the European Patrol Corvette program. The estimated €288.3 million, 48-month development effort will complete preliminary and detailed design work and develop a common modular platform that participating navies can adapt to their needs. The project calls for one prototype each of the Full Combat Multipurpose and Long Range Multipurpose variants, with harbor testing and shore-based qualification of components. Planned missions include offshore patrol, escort, maritime security and protection of sea lines of communication.