{"id":28248,"date":"2018-05-18T15:44:10","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T15:44:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/05\/18\/could-this-be-the-new-us-navy-frigate-design\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:23:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:23:33","slug":"could-this-be-the-new-us-navy-frigate-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2018\/05\/18\/could-this-be-the-new-us-navy-frigate-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Could this be the new US Navy frigate design?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NORFOLK, Va. \u2014 The Italian navy frigate Alpino visited Norfolk this week after participating in exercises with U.S. ships while at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But its mission goes deeper than that, as the Italian Defense Ministry also says it\u2019s here to hopefully interest U.S. officials in the ship\u2019s design and capabilities as the U.S. Navy investigates future frigate designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissioned in September 2016, the ship is an anti-submarine variant of the European multi-purpose frigate and is built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Variations of the design are already in use by the French, Egyptian and Royal Moroccan navies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis overseas campaign, along with the joint activities and exchange with friendly and allied navies, provides a valuable training opportunity to maintain high levels of cooperation and to strengthen relations with trans-regional allies,\u201d an Italian navy press release said..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But according to the release, the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is the \u201csole sponsor and partner of this campaign.\u201d So while the ship is here to train its crew and operate in exercises, it\u2019s also being used as a marketing campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\t