European Patrol Corvette contract could be signed in 2025
EPC project team meeting at Palazzo Marina, Rome. (Photo: Italian Navy)
According to a release from the Italian Navy, a contract for constructing the future European Patrol Corvette (EPC) could be signed as soon as 2025.
If a deal is indeed signed in 2025, work on the lead ship could begin in 2026 with a view to deliveries starting in 2030.
The news came after representatives of the Italian Navy, Spain, France, Greece, and the European Defence Agency attended an EPC project team meeting on 8 March in Rome.
The Italian Navy said the meeting to draft common requirements was ‘fundamental’ to further developing the EPC project’s underlying development document.
Across Europe, more than 30 ship classes weigh between 500t to 4000t; the EPC project aims to overcome this market fragmentation with a common vessel.
Denmark and Norway are signed up to the project as co-financiers, and Portugal holds observer status.
In December 2021, the Naviris JV and Navantia submitted an offer for the European Defence Fund (EDF) Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC). MMPC is the name of the EDF tender for the EPC.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
European Patrol Corvette (EPC)/Buques de Protección Marítima (BPM) [Spain]
More from Naval Warfare
-
Sweden’s decision on four new warships inches closer as it eyes UK, France and Spain
Sweden decided last year that it wanted a significantly larger warship for its Luleå Class programme than originally planned, with three likely contenders that could potentially deliver within the country’s tight schedule.
-
US Coast Guard prepares procurement of next-gen surface search radar
The NXSSR will replace five in-service capabilities and be the US Coast Guard’s primary collision avoidance system.
-
MBDA-led DragonFire’s latest trials move the LDEW system closer to UK Navy integration
The DragonFire lines up with other European laser-directed energy weapons being developed in collaboration with MBDA.
-
US Coast Guard pursues solutions to increase maritime domain dominance
The USCG is seeking technologies, services and applications to better connect its assets and speed up the decision-making process.
-
Canadian Coast Guard’s OOSV delivery is “major milestone” in fleet modernisation
The Polar Class 6 platform is the largest CCG science-dedicated vessel and will operate on the country’s east coast.