The United States Government has awarded the consortium led by Lockheed Martin, of which Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) is a part, an order with the instrument of the Undefinitized Contract Action, as an advance on the Foreign Military Sales contract for the construction of four Multi units. -Mission Surface Combatants (MMSC) destined for Saudi Arabia. The ships will be built at the Fincantieri facility in Marinette, Wisconsin.
The advance will finance, for an amount up to 450 million dollars, the start of the detailed design and planning for the construction of the four units and will be divided mainly between Lockeed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine. The MMSC will be distinguished by being highly manoeuvrable, characterized by the flexibility derived from the mono-hull of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Freedom class, built by the same consortium for the US Navy, with an increased autonomy to 5.000 nautical miles and a speed superior to 30 nodes, making it capable of both coastal and offshore patrol operations, and capable of dealing with all modern threats to maritime and economic security.
Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, commented: "This contract represents a very prestigious recognition of the foresight of our choice to enter the US market. Since then, in ten years we have consolidated our presence as a reference manufacturer not only for the US Navy, but also for many foreign marinas, while contributing to the development of the industry and the economic fabric of the Midwest".
Lockheed Martin and FMM, along with naval architecture firm Gibbs & Cox and over 800 suppliers in 42 states, are already collaborating on the US Navy's LCS program, one of the most ambitious in the world for surface ships.
Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), which controls Fincantieri Marinette Marine and two other sites in the Great Lakes region, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri Ace Marine, from 2008 has invested more than 130 million dollars to modernize shipyards in Wisconsin, assuming and forming more than 1.000 people.
(photo: Lockheed Martin)