The Italian Job: FREMM Frigate Program Saved
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On October 17, 2005, DID noted that the Franco-Italian FREMM multi-role frigate program was on the rocks due to the Italian government’s failure to include their required EUR 400 million contributions in their FY 2006 budget. Unwillingness to re-open the budget had left things at an impasse, with serious consequences threatened all around. It was going to to take some doing to get out of this one.
Defense-Aerospace reports that the deal is done, and it did indeed require some fancy footwork. While not officially confirmed yet, it looks like a November 2005 signing for the FREMM program Memorandum of Understanding may be possible. Defense-Aerospace.com and Defense News have the details.
