European Patrol Corvette Project's First Phase Contract Signed

The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) project's first phase took a step forward on October 24, 2023, as OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation) inked the Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC) contract.

The contract, valued at €87 million, was signed during a ceremony at OCCAR's premises in Rome, in collaboration with a consortium led by Naviris. The consortium includes Fincantieri (Italy), Naval Group (France), Navantia (Spain), and other participants from Greece, Denmark, and Norway.

The European Commission (EC) is offering substantial support through the European Defence Fund (EDF), contributing €60 million in grants, while the remaining €27 million will be financed by participating Member States, namely Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Greece, and Norway. OCCAR will manage the project, acting as the Granting Authority on behalf of the EC and the Contracting Authority for the Member States.

Additionally, the consortium partners signed a consortium agreement on the same day to maximize collaboration and synergy among European shipbuilding industries.

The first contract of the MMPC, with a duration of 24 months, aims to initiate the design of the next-generation European Patrol Corvette, encompassing two main versions: the Long Range Multipurpose and the Full Combat Multipurpose. These designs are intended to combine innovations, synergies, and cross-fertilization from leading European shipbuilders, namely Naval Group, Fincantieri, and Navantia, aligning with the operational requirements of various European Navies.

The new class of corvettes will be based on innovative and disruptive technologies, offering smart, innovative, affordable, sustainable, interoperable, and flexible vessels to meet a wide range of evolving mission requirements, from high-seas surveillance with high autonomy to coastal law enforcement and sovereignty affirmation missions tailored to the diverse needs of European Navies.

The EPC project, a collaborative initiative of multiple European Navies within the PESCO framework, is supported by the European Commission and participating Member States. It aims to define the requirements for a second-rank surface combatant and replace several series of ships in the near future. The European Commission selected the MMPC proposal, coordinated by Naviris and involving a European consortium of 40 companies across 12 countries, with a grant from the EDF and national co-funding for a two-year initial phase of design, technological development, and common working methodologies.