Unleashing Innovation: A Collaborative Proposal for the Next-Gen Modular Multirole Patrol Corvette

Fincantieri, Naval Group, along with their collaborative initiative Naviris, and Navantia enhance their partnership for the Modular Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC) initiative and reaffirm their commitment to collaborate in developing the first shared naval capability in Europe. In this regard, a consortium spearheaded by Fincantieri, Naval Group, and Navantia, coordinated by Naviris, submitted an industrial proposal on December 9th related to the MMPC call from the European Defence Fund (EDF).

Their joint evaluation indicates that the European Union faces an increasing array of threats (growing tensions among major powers, issues of illegal immigration, terrorism, etc.). Over recent years, particularly in 2021, there have been escalating appeals for Europeans to assume responsibility for their own security measures both within NATO and under the European common security and defence framework. Numerous European Union member nations have consistently emphasized the necessity to build collective military capabilities to confront shared challenges.

In this context, Fincantieri, Naval Group, and Navantia recognize the need for collaboration within the European Union naval defence sector to assist Europe in tackling these challenges and those on the horizon.

As significant industrial players in the European naval defence arena, they believe this is the opportune moment to initiate a genuine, constructive partnership around a unified program that will represent the first shared naval capability in Europe. This strategic initiative already exists: the European Patrol Corvette (EPC), a paramount naval initiative under the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).

On December 9th, the consortium led by the three naval industrial partners and managed by Naviris presented the industrial proposal concerning the MMPC call of the European Defence Fund (EDF) to advance this collaborative project.

The defined goal of the proposal is to optimize synergies and partnerships among European shipbuilding industries. By collaboratively developing a new vessel, the EPC, they aspire to ensure European sovereignty concerning second-tier warships.

This has been facilitated through the involvement of:

• 4 nations participating in the EPC PESCO project (Italy, France, Spain, and Greece)
• 6 nations contributing financially (Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, and Norway)
• 3 European Shipbuilding Industries (Fincantieri, Naval Group, and Navantia) with Naviris overseeing the coordination
• 40 companies focused on maritime systems and equipment

Built upon a unified framework of standards and using advanced collaborative engineering methodologies, EPC will be developed through the most effective teamwork from conceptual studies to the initial design phase. The resulting design will represent a significant advancement over existing warships, as it will be modular, adaptable, energy-efficient, eco-friendlier, safer, more interoperable, and cyber-resilient. MMPC will ultimately be tailored to meet specific national requirements while maintaining the defined design as a common reference point.

This proposal marks the initial crucial step toward preparing for future production of the vessel in the context of a subsequent call under EDF within a multi-annual framework. In this scenario, promoting the program to other European Navies, through a united action of nations already involved in the PESCO initiative, will bolster the European industry, enhancing cooperation, efficiency, and reducing redundancies in defense expenditures.