The U.S. Department of Defense announced today that Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) was awarded a contract valued at a billion dollars (USD) to build two additional Constellation-class Frigates, FFG 66 and FFG 67. FMM received the contract for the lead ship of the Constellation-Class in April 2020, and since the Navy has exercised five options for follow-on vessels. This two-ship option is valued at $1,044,529,113, per the Pentagon announcement. The lead ship, the future USS Constellation FFG 62, is under construction now at the newly revamped Wisconsin shipyard.
“The team at Fincantieri Marine Group is committed to support the U.S. Navy, and the Constellation program will be the centerpiece of our portfolio for decades. Along with our partners and suppliers, we are going to deliver world-class warships.” said Marco Galbiati, CEO of FMG.
The Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigates of the United States Navy are based on the European multipurpose frigates (FREMM), already in service with the French and Italian navies. Constellation follows the modular but problematic littoral combat ships of the Freedom and Independence classes. With five ships waiting to be built and contract options for four more vessels, Fincantieri looks to be busy for years becoming the international reference point for small surface combatants.
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diversified maritime companies, employs more than 21,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group. This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
