Australian frigate risk reduction studies signed

The Australian government has signed an agreement with Navantia for the Risk Reduction and Design Study (RRDS) Phase for the Department of Defence's (DoD's) SEA 5000 Future Frigate programme, the company announced on 29 August.

The government has entered into similar agreements with BAE Systems and Fincantieri. The agreements come under the DoD's Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) for the programme.

According to Navantia, the agreement will see the company engage in processes for approximately one year that will allow the DoD to assess the risk, capability and other matters associated with Navantia’s proposed ship design.

Back in April 2016 the government granted first pass approval for the Future Frigates. Three designers – BAE Systems with the Type 26 Frigate; Fincantieri with the FREMM Frigate, and Navantia with a redesigned F100 – were short-listed to refine their designs. The frigates will all be built in Adelaide, incorporating the Australian-developed CEA Phased-Array Radar.

The CEP is scheduled to return second pass approval in 2018, which will allow for construction to commence in Adelaide in 2020. The programme is estimated to be worth more than $35 billion.