The conceptual design contract will last 16 months, at the end of which the offer will be presented for the selection of the builder of the 20 frigates, scheduled for 2020... the FFGX programme will provide the United States Navy Fleet Command with the appropriate capacity to achieve the control objectives at sea and maritime safety operations, as well as allow support to naval combat groups and other fleet support operations

Navantia has been selected by the United States Government, along with its local partner the American shipyard General Dynamics Bath Iron Work, for the conceptual design phase of the FFGX frigate program.

The FFGX program aims to acquire 20 frigates with local construction in the US, with the reference design used by the Australian frigate AWD class Hobart, derived from the class F-100. Navantia and GD Bath Iron Works will adapt this design to the requirements of the American Navy.

The relationship between Navantia and GD Bath Iron Works dates back more than 40 years with the collaboration in the program of frigates Class Santa María of the Spanish Navy, in which this American company transmitted its technology to Navantia, then called Bazán. Other programs such as the AFCON corbeta, the AWD program for the Australian Navy and the OPC patrol project for the U.S. Coast Guard are joined.

Navantia's experience in the design of frigates with proven capacity and its successful trajectory in global export were key factors in the formation of the team with Bath Iron Works, one of the leading shipyards in the world in the construction of frigates and destroyers. The class F-100 "Alvaro de Bazan" and derivatives have a proven capacity, with 11 units operating today - and another 2 that will soon be delivered - for three first order marines, the Spanish, Norwegian and Australian.

This pre-selection for the FFGX program, together with the Australian SEA5000 and Canadian Surface Combatant, makes Navantia the only naval company that currently competes in the three largest international frigate programs being developed in the world: Australia, Canada and the USA.