The Italian Job: FREMM Frigate Program Saved

FREMM Concept

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.