Strengths of each Future Frigates contract bidder revealed in Australian Strategic Policy Institute report

THE strengths of each bidder for the Future Frigates contract are today revealed in an experts’ report, ahead of the Federal Government’s $35 billion decision tomorrow.

Navantia’s offering for the Future Frigate, the F-5000.

• Secret documents show minimum 50 per cent Australian build
• Read more on Fincantieri’s bid here ...
• ... on Navantia’s bid here ...
• And read about BAE’s bid here

THE strengths of each bidder for the Future Frigates contract are today revealed in an experts’ report, ahead of the Federal Government’s $35 billion decision tomorrow.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute will release a report on the Future Frigates, a day before a National Security Committee meeting to pick the winner.

It assesses the bidders on cost, risks, capability, and Australian engagement.

In the competition between Britain’s BAE, Italy’s Fincantieri and Spain’s Navantia, the report says BAE is offering the most modern ship but it would probably be the most expensive.

Fincantieri would be cheaper but could struggle in an unfamiliar Australian environment, while Navantia would likely be the cheapest and least risky option, but also the least stealthy ship.

The Global Combat Ship-Australia (GCS-A) is BAE Systems' offer to the Commonwealth for the future frigates project.

The institute, a government-funded think tank, stopped short of declaring which was the best but instead evaluated the bids on crucial factors including their submarine-fighting abilities, the chances of things going wrong, the engagement of Australian industry, and the price tag.

The National Security Committee meeting tomorrow is expected to be the final one.

However there is some speculation a decision could be delayed, or the committee could decide to narrow the field to two contenders while seeking more information.

The nine warships will be built at Osborne from 2020. Their main role will be to spy on and fight increasing numbers of enemy submarines in the region.

Fincantieri’s Fremm frigate at the Riva Trigoso shipyard.

The report authors said the decision would be a “defining one both for Australia’s security and for Australia’s defence industry”.

All three bidders have pledged to use Australian workers, although the Government’s tender made it clear they did not have to use Australian shipbuilders ASC or Austal.

The institute notes that recent Government decisions indicated Australian involvement in the project and supply chain were critical, but the details of that involvement are still secret.

The report concludes that all three are capable of anti-submarine warfare but that Fincantieri and BAE “seem to have an edge over Navantia”.

“BAE has the advantage of the most modern design with advanced quietening techniques designed in, while Fincantieri also offers acoustic reduction measures and can provide for hangars for two ASW helicopters from its baseline design,” the report says.

“The Navantia design will probably be the most efficient to implement in Australia’s shipyards due to commonality with the Air Warfare Destroyers and is likely to be the least expensive option.”