Spanish shipbuilder Navantia and the Australian government are to conduct a risk reduction and design study on the company's offering of a future frigate.

Work on the initial phase of Australia's SEA5000 Future Frigate Program will be conducted over a one-year period under a Future Frigate Participant Services contract from the Australian Department of Defense.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and BAE Systems have received similar contracts for evaluation of their ship designs.

"Navantia's participation in this program is a significant milestone for the future of Navantia in Australia as the opportunity to be a potential designer of the future frigates will be the most important naval surface shipbuilding program worldwide," Navantia said.

"This program has the potential to allow for the development of Navantia Australia's local capabilities and its Operations and Design Center, which will actively participate in this design phase."

Four companies receive LCS maintenance and sustainment contracts
Washington (UPI) Aug 30, 2016 –

BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, General Dynamics NASSCO, Epsilon Systems Solutions and Lockheed Martin have been awarded U.S. Navy contracts for maintenance and sustainment of the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship fleet.

BAE and General Dynamics' contracts contain five ordering periods and have a cumulative ceiling value of about $741 million.

The deal with Epsilon and Lockheed Martin also has five ordering periods and has a cumulative ceiling value of about $209 million.

The firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contracts for BAE and GenDyn will involve Chief of Naval Operations availabilities, continuous maintenance, emergent maintenance, preventative/planned maintenance and facilities maintenance/corrosion control in and outside the United States.

The firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award contracts to Epsilon and Lockheed Martin will provide preventative/planned maintenance and facilities maintenance/corrosion control within the continental United States.

All four companies will have the opportunity to compete for individual delivery orders.

Work will be performed in Florida and outside the continental United States as needed, with an expected completion date of August 2021 if all ordering periods are executed.

Naval Sea Systems Command is the contracting activity.