European Commission Selects Multi-Mission Patrol Corvette Proposal by Consortium of European Shipyards

The European Commission has chosen a consortium of European shipyards, including Navantia, Fincantieri, and Naval Group, for the European Multi-Mission Patrol Corvette (EPC/MMPC) proposal submitted on November 22, 2023.

This decision builds on the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) PESCO programme foundations, under which Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC) Call 1 contracts were signed on October 24, 2023, as part of the European Defence Fund (EDF) programme. MMPC project’s first contract focused on creating the initial design for the EPC, a next-generation naval vessel. This vessel, developed within the context of a PESCO project, will feature two main versions: the Long Range Multipurpose and the Full Combat Multipurpose. 

The European Commission has approved the consortium's proposal for MMPC Call 2 with the maximum EDF budget of €154 .5 million.

The upcoming phase aims to finalize the initial and detailed design while developing and integrating technological components. These will enable the corvettes to host various systems and payloads, fulfilling a wide array of tasks and missions. The project will see the production of the first two prototypes: a Long Range Mission version (LRM) and a Full Combat Mission version (FCM). These prototypes will form the foundation for future national fleets of advanced corvettes, enhancing commonality, interoperability, and standardization among EU Member States’ navies.

The European Commission has tasked the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement (OCCAR-EA) with managing this next phase on its behalf.

The MMPC Call 2 aims to contribute to five key pillars of European autonomy: Economy, Defence, Technology, Industry, and Security. By consolidating competencies and fostering joint technological advancements, the project seeks to reduce the EU's reliance on external entities for component production, secure a new transnational EU supply chain, lower unit costs, and position European shipyards as a competitive alternative to non-European ones.