Page 40: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2022)

COVER STORY FINCANTIERI MARINE GROUP “One of the things that has been useful for me is to think ahead. When you’re ? ying a plane, you cannot stop and say, ‘Let me think where I’m going, what I’m doing.’ You have to constantly think ahead. It’s very much the same in shipbuilding.”

Dario Deste, CEO & President,

Fincantieri Marine Group, discussing the skill sets of being a former Navy pilot that translate into shipbuilding leadership.

Fincantieri Marine Group ntroducing a new class of war- May 2021.” Deste, a former Italian Na- FFG 62 is based upon a “parent de- ship usually comes with a heap- val pilot who has been in shipbuilding sign,” the Italian-French FREMM (Fre- ing helping of pain, from cost for about 15 years, said his experience gata Europea Multi-Missione) frigate, a

Ioverruns to technical glitches. as a pilot taught him to always think ship that is being been built in France

Serving as the prime contractor on the ahead, a valuable tool in shipbuilding to and Italy for their respective navies and ? rst two Constellation-class guided mis- help anticipate and head-off problems a few foreign customers. FMM’s parent sile frigates (FFGs), Fincantieri Mari- while they are small. “When you’re ? y- company, Fincantieri builds the ships nette Marine (FMM), Marinette, Wisc., ing a plane, you cannot stop the plane at its Muggiano shipyard at La Spezia, and its parent company Fincantieri Ma- and say, ‘Let me think where I’m going, Italy. Although the parent design is Eu- rine Group (FMG) are investing might- what I’m doing.’ You have to constantly ropean, FFG 62 will have signi? cant ily in the shipyard – technology, people think ahead.” American content, to include a govern- and processes – to help mitigate risk as As the prime contractor on this new ment furnished combat system centered prudently as possible in delivering for class of U.S. Navy ship, Deste and his around the new SPY 6 radar and newest the U.S. Navy. team are working relentlessly to deliver baseline of the Aegis Combat System

To reduce risk to budget and schedule, as expected. “We have a lot of chal- and other U.S. sensors and systems. the new FFG will be built on an existing lenges here, but I would say the ? rst The American version will be about hull design and armed with well-known priority for us is to execute the program 23 feet longer and about 500 tons heavi- combat systems and weapons. The cur- and be on schedule,” said Deste. “Be- er to provide margin for growth and to rent program of record is for 20 ships, ing on schedule is imperative, and it’s accommodate future weapons such as although it could be more. FMM has something that I make clear to all of my lasers, although the bridge and propul- been awarded a detail design and con- teammates through the organization.” sion plant layout is the same. It will be struction (DD&C) for up to 10 ships in equipped with a 32-cell, strike-length the program — the lead two ships plus Risk Mitigation, by Design MK 41 vertical launch system (VLS) eight option ships, to date. While investment by FMG has been launcher and armed with Standard Mis- “The program was assigned to us substantial and continual, arguably the siles, Naval Strike Missile capable and at the beginning of 2020,” said Dario ? rst, best step to help ensure the ? rst Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM)

Deste, CEO & President, FMG. “The two contracted ships are designed and Block II; a Mk110 57mm main gun, and program itself is for 10 ships. We re- built with minimal hitches lay in the se- have the RAM close-in system for point ceived the ? rst one for about $800 mil- lection of an existing, lower-risk design defense. It will have a ? ight deck and lion and we received the second one in for the ship. hangar for MH-60R helicopters. It will 40 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2022

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