Navy debriefs FFG(X) competitors

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition James Geurts told reporters Wednesday that the service has completed debriefing all losing competitors for the FFG(X) frigate competition and responded to concerns about its cost. Geurts said he’d “committed to all the companies” to do a detailed and transparent debrief; and now, are launching the FFG(X) program as planned. Fincantieri’s Marinette (Wis.) Marine won the April 30 initial contract for detail design and construction to deliver up to 10 FFG(X)s. It beat competitors Huntington Ingalls Industries of Pascagoula, Miss.; Austal USA of Mobile, Ala.; and General Dynamics Bath (Maine) Iron Works. Last month, Geurts said the lead ship is expected to cost $1.281B, including design money, construction of the first ship, government furnished equipment, program office, and other associated costs. The Navy’s estimates expected Fincantieri’s follow-on ships to cost about $781M on average. ” So, I’m comfortable that we’ve got that program positioned well,” he said. If the estimated cost per thousand tons of displacement of the FFG(X) is about equal to that of a Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship or the Coast Guard National Security Cutter, that would increase the estimated unit procurement cost of the third and later FFG(X)s by 17 percent. - and closer to $1.1B. HII execs were not happy with the Navy’s decision and stated so publicly. (Source: Defense Daily 05/20/20) https://www.defensedaily.com/navy-finished-frigatedebriefs-geurts-comfortable-program/navy-usmc/