According to information published by Naval Group on October 25, 2023, a notable stride was made in advancing European naval capabilities at the OCCAR premises in Rome.
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) inked a contract with a consortium led by Naviris, encapsulating key naval players like Fincantieri (Italy), Naval Group (France), Navantia (Spain), along with beneficiaries from Greece, Denmark, and Norway. This contract marked the commencement of the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) project’s first phase, focusing on the Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC).
The initial phase of the project is budgeted at 87 M€, with a substantial backing from the European Commission (EC) via the European Defence Fund (EDF). The EC will fund 60 M€ in the form of grants, while the participating Member States will contribute the remaining 27 M€.
OCCAR is set to oversee the entire project scope, acting both as the Granting Authority, mandated by the EC, and the Contracting Authority, mandated by the Member States involved.
On the same day, company delegates solidified their commitment to the project by signing a consortium agreement. This agreement is aimed at guiding the project execution, fostering synergies, and promoting collaboration among European shipbuilding industries.
The MMPC’s first contract, spanning 24 months, aims to lay down the initial design of the upcoming naval vessel class, the European Patrol Corvette (EPC), under a PESCO project framework.