Under the earlier declarations, the new pair is to be built as the GP type, and not as the ASW (as the units sold to Egypt.) They are due to be launched until 2025. The second frigate work will start this year, too. They will join the ones that serve within 2013-2019.
At present, at the Fincantieri shipyard the second frigate has been tested for Egypt (ex Emilio Bianchi). It is to be launched within weeks to come. Additionally, the Italian government is negotiating to sell other frigates of the type to Egypt, which were to be built from scratch according to the purchaser demands.
The FREMM program has been successful for Fincantieri. Apart from ten units sold to Italian Navy as well as two to Egypt, the Italian company has been the FFG(X) leader, assuming the construction of 20 frigates for the US Navy. The contemporary Department of Defence has ordered the first one (the future USS Constellation, FFG-62) and has announced the following two (FFG-63 USS Congress and FFG-64 USS Chesapeake). The prototype construction in Fincantieri Marinette Marine in the United States shipyard will start this year.
By: Defence Industry News (Photo: Italy Navy)